Sunday was a great day for the Michigan football program. Not only did the Wolverines land two dynamic players from the transfer portal on offense, but they retained one of their best players on defense.
Ever since the end of the 2025 Michigan football season, it was relatively quiet on the Jyaire Hill front. There was chatter about him possibly considering the NFL draft. However, his name hasn't been mentioned in connection with the transfer portal.
It felt like a good bet that he was going to come back. Nothing is a sure thing, though, especially in this era of college football. So, even though things felt like they were on track for him to return, it was still a huge positive to see Hill confirm on social media that he will be back for the 2026 season.
Michigan with another player retention win
Hill technically has two seasons to play if he chooses. He saw action in four games as a freshman in 2023, before taking over as a starter in 2024 and 2025. This past season, Hill was stellar for the Wolverines, notching 36 tackles (24 solo), three tackles for loss, one sack, one interception, and five pass breakups. He's got 13 in two seasons as a starter.
The 6-foot-2 corner had an interception against Ohio State. He has also done well in coverage against elite players. Getting him back is massive for the secondary, which has suffered some defections.
Hill and Zeke Berry give the Wolverines their top two corners back. Mason Curtis and Rod Moore, potentially, could be back at safety, along with some younger players at both positions such as Shamari Earls and Jacob Oden.
It would be preferable if the Wolverines could convince one of the three safeties who left to return, along with Jayden Sanders, but that might not happen. Smith Snowden, the former Utah cornerback, is also an option. He visited Oregon this weekend.
Regardless, Kyle Whittingham has his top cornerback back, which is another roster retention win.