One of the biggest reasons Michigan beat Oklahoma last week was the play of Jyaire Hill, even if the day included a rough moment for the senior cornerback.
Hill committed an ill-advised personal foul in the third quarter when the Sooners were deep in their own territory and Michigan led 10-0. The penalty handed Oklahoma a free first down, and the Sooners eventually finished that drive with a touchdown. At the time, it felt like a swing point.
But the real backbreaker came later, when Oklahoma had the ball again in the fourth quarter and the game was tied 10-10. Hill read John Mateer, jumped the pass and took it back to the six, putting Michigan in position for the game-winning touchdown.
It was the biggest play of Hill’s Michigan career, and it marked his third interception with the Wolverines. He also picked off a pass against Ohio State last November.
Hill’s rise has been building for a while. The 6-foot-2 cornerback has 24 career starts and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten last season. Now he looks headed for even more recognition, especially after the first two weeks, when he helped hold Western Michigan and Oklahoma wide receivers to -7 yards.
That number is the one that jumps off the page. According to Cam Mellor, Hill leads college football in fewest yards allowed in pass coverage, sitting at -7 yards after two games. The list behind him includes Nazir Ward of Syracuse at -3, Elijah Davis of Utah at 0, Audavion Collins of Penn State at 0, Therrian Alexander II of BYU at 0, Caleb Ricks of San Diego State at 0, Dezz Ricks of Texas A&M at 1 and Andrew Marshall of Nebraska at 3.
The feat stands out even more because Oklahoma has talented receivers. It also matters that three other Big Ten corners are on the list, while Iowa’s Jacob Wallace is the only other player there who has faced a Power-4 opponent, Iowa State.
And Hill isn’t doing it alone. Michigan has three cornerbacks playing at a high level, with Zeke Berry and Smith Snowden both bringing strong resumes of their own after being Second-Team Big Ten and Big-12, respectively, last season. All three look like future NFL players, and the group may be better than the cornerback room Michigan had during its national championship season in 2023.
With the defensive line performing the way it did against Oklahoma, Michigan’s defense looks built to be dominant. The Wolverines appear to have hit big with Jay Hill, and with this kind of talent in the secondary, it all fits together.
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Position coach Micah Simon has remained in regular contact with Guerrant as Michigan works to keep its foot on the gas. For now, the receiver is still locked in on his high school season, but the Wolverines clearly have built enough traction to make this one worth watching as the next stretch of recruiting develops. [Read more 🡒]