The Michigan football program is not only hoping that Sherrone Moore is a good replacement for Jim Harbaugh at head coach this offseason, but they are also hoping to fill the void left in the linebacker room by the departures of Junior Colson and Michael Berrett to the NFL. Michigan is expecting big things from Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham, and Moore expressed confidence in those two, saying that they will surprise some this season.

“Those linebackers, Jaishawn and Ernest, are two of the best in the country,” Sherrone Moore said, according to Chris Peterson of GMBWolverine. “They're gonna surprise a lot of people.”

Junior Colson reunited with Jim Harbaugh, as he was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round, while Michael Barrett was drafted in the seventh round by the Carolina Panthers.

Last season, Ernest Hausmann was the third linebacker behind Colson and Barrett, and he is expected to take over one of the starting roles this season. He has reportedly been a standout this spring, according to Peterson. Jaishawn Barham is a Maryland transfer and is expected to start next to Hausmann. Barham had 95 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and one interception, which came against Michigan last season against JJ McCarthy, according to Peterson. He is an experienced player who should be valuable in a defense that is now being run by new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who is coming over from the New York Giants.

Michigan football was dominant in nearly every area last season, and there is a lot to replace, but Moore is confident in the ability of Hausmann and Barham to step into starting roles this season and be a dominant pairing. The run game and defense were arguably the two most important aspects of the national champion Wolverines last season, and it would not be a surprise if that was the goal again this season.

Michigan football trying to succeed in the post-Jim Harbaugh era

Michigan has an interesting schedule this season, with some tougher games earlier in the year, in comparison to 2023. The Wolverines will start with a home game against Fresno State, with a high-profile game against Texas at home set for Week 2. Following that is a home game against Arkansas State before Big Ten play starts.

As USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington enter the Big Ten, there will be intriguing matchups and a tougher conference schedule. The first Big Ten game is at home against USC on Sept. 21. The next game against a new member will be against Washington on the road in a rematch of last year's national championship game on Oct. 5. Michigan then has Oregon at home on Nov. 2, and is not scheduled to play UCLA this season.

It will be interesting to see how Michigan fares with Moore moving into the head coach position and plenty of talent leaving from last year's championship team.