He’s been tested, benched, and built back up—and now Jyaire Hill has the chance to become Michigan’s defensive anchor. After an up-and-down sophomore season in 2024, the junior cornerback enters 2025 as the Wolverines’ clear No. 1 option on the outside. The combination of production, physical tools, and opportunity has him on the verge of a breakout year.
A Rocky but Productive 2024
Hill’s second season in Ann Arbor was far from invisible. He appeared in 12 games with nine starts, piling up 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, nine pass breakups, and his first career interception.
Against USC, he delivered six tackles, a tackle for loss, and two passes defended. Versus Washington, he added seven tackles, a sack, and a breakup that stalled a key drive.
Those performances earned him Defensive Player of the Game honors on three separate occasions.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound corner showed why he was such a coveted recruit—long, physical, and athletic enough to shadow top Big Ten wideouts. But his year wasn’t without setbacks.
Down the stretch, Hill saw his starting job reduced, including a benching against Oregon, and his No. 20 jersey was switched to No. 36 in what head coach Sherrone Moore described as an “internal matter.”
The message was clear: Michigan expected more consistency, discipline, and maturity from a player with his talent.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
With standout corner Will Johnson off to the NFL and other veterans moving on, the 2025 secondary looks dramatically different. That makes Hill’s emergence not just a hope—it’s a necessity.
He enters the fall as Michigan’s top corner, with only senior Zeke Berry offering starting experience alongside him. The rest of the unit is unproven, creating pressure for Hill to be both a stopper and a leader.
Defensive backs coach LaMar Morgan believes Hill is ready. “I think now he kind of saw how Will [Johnson] did that, and now I think he’s kind of allowing that to improve his game,” Morgan told Michigan media.
“People are going to know what he does. They’re going to watch his tape. His errors…are going to show up. I just think he’s mature. His family’s done a great job. I think he can have a really good season if he can stay focused.”
For his part, Hill insists the moment isn’t too big. “I don’t feel no pressure,” he said. “I just be out there doing what I’m supposed to do, getting the calls, applying it how it’s supposed to be applied.”
Ready to Prove It
That calm confidence is what Michigan needs. Hill has already shown flashes of being a game-changer. Now, with the spotlight squarely on him, his response will determine how far the Wolverines’ retooled defense can go.
If he delivers on his promise, Jyaire Hill won’t just be Michigan’s top corner in 2025—he’ll be one of the best in the Big Ten, and perhaps an early NFL draft riser.