Jimmy Rolder had his most productive season of college football last year, and he will have an important role on the Wolverines’ defense this year. Here is his path to Michigan and outlook for the 2025 season:
With the Michigan Wolverines returning all their production at the linebacker position, the unit should be among the best in the Big Ten, if not the country, in 2025. We all know about starters Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann, but an unsung hero at the position over the last couple years has been soon-to-be senior Jimmy Rolder.
Despite those aforementioned starters returning to Ann Arbor this year, Rolder may actually be in line for even more opportunities in 2025. Today, we’ll dive into his path to Ann Arbor and what is in store for him this season.
The story so far
Rolder grew up in Chicago, Illinois and played ball at Marist High School. He committed to Michigan late in the 2022 cycle after being a late-rising prospect, and he found the field a good amount as a freshman. He came in on special teams in 13 games and at linebacker in nine, finishing his first year of college football with 14 total tackles.
However, the 2023 season was a bit of a step back for Rolder due to injuries, so he only appeared in six games. But he rebounded in a big way during a healthy 2024 season, playing in 12 games and racking up 26 tackles.
Playing in 200 snaps, Rolder was the fifth-highest rated defensive player (83.0) last season for the Wolverines, per Pro Football Focus. He also had a run defense grade of 82.5, a tackling grade of 83.4 and a coverage grade of 76.8, showcasing that he is a versatile player that can do a bunch of different things at a high level.
Outlook for 2025
You’d think Rolder would still be in line for snaps off the bench again this season given that Michigan has a loaded linebacker room. However, Rolder should be on the field even more in 2025 due to Barham being in line to get snaps along the edge. This would pair Rolder up with Hausmann
If the Wolverines are to bounce back this fall and compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff, they will need an elite defense once again. Rolder will be a huge part in that and will be relied on more than ever in 2025.