How Michigan DC Jay Hill will use the secondary to power the defense

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 02: New Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill of the Michigan Wolverines attends a college basketball game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Southern California Trojans at Crisler Arena on January 02, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

New defensive coordinator Jay Hill comes to Michigan by way of BYU, and the Cougars’ defense was a big part of their success last year. They had the No. 5 red zone defense in the country, and were in the top-10 for interceptions and defensive touchdowns.

Hill’s defense appears to run through the secondary, which is good news for the Wolverines given the experience they’re bringing back. Veterans Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry return, while senior Smith Snowden transferred over from Utah. Young players Jo’Ziah Edmond and Shamari Earls both have a shot at taking leaps forward this fall.

Then there’s the safety group. Juniors Mason Curtis and Jacob Oden, and sophomore Jordan Young, really improved in 2025. Michigan also added Memphis veteran Chris Bracy through the portal. If the Wolverines can get Rod Moore fully healthy and back on the field, that’s an even more complete unit.

Looking at highlights from BYU’s defense last season, it looks like Hill likes to vary how he uses his secondary. And when you look at Pro Football Focus (PFF), Hill had some of his secondary players at the top for rush defense, and that didn’t take away from how they graded out in coverage.

Take a look at this play from BYU cornerback Mory Bamba against Utah. He’s able to pick up a huge tackle despite starting well off the line of scrimmage. He uses his speed to pick up a huge fourth-down stop in the red zone. That’s something Hill should be able to capitalize on with his players at Michigan.

It’s not just Michigan’s short-yardage and red zone defense that has the potential to improve under Hill, it’s the takeaways, too. Last season, Jyaire Hill had several “almost” interceptions. Under Jay Hill, Jyaire Hill could live up to his potential in 2026. He, Curtis, Berry, Moore, Oden each had one interception — the unit is clearly competent when it comes to forcing turnovers. Pair that with a coordinator who focuses on that kind of play, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

Cornerback Evan Johnson led the way for the Cougars last season with five interceptions and a touchdown. A pair of those came in BYU’s game against East Carolina. He’s clearly got his eyes on the quarterback and has a sense of what he needs to make a big play for his team. While jumping a route comes with some risk, the reward is high. The Wolverines will face some of the most explosive offensive units in the Big Ten in 2026, and giving quarterbacks a reason to hesitate before throwing those passes is going to be huge.

Michigan’s secondary has the pieces to help Hill run the defense how he wants. The experience and leadership from veteran players, as well as the familiarity in the system from Snowden, can elevate the unit come the fall. I can’t wait to get an early look at the defense during the spring game on April 18.