One of the more under-the-radar additions Michigan made in the transfer portal this winter was defensive back T.J. Metcalf, whose showcased some versatility and made an impression on Wink Martindale early in fall camp:
One of the more interesting storylines to watch heading into the 2025 season is how Wink Martindale and LaMar Morgan decide to build up the secondary. With the losses of Makari Paige, Will Johnson and Aamir Hall, there are plenty of snaps to go around, but Michigan has no shortage of guys competing for playing time. That goes for safety, nickel and outside corner, where the Wolverines have a surplus of options.
One player that’s a part of that surplus is junior T.J. Metcalf. Fans still might not be totally familiar with him, as he only joined the program (along with is younger brother, Tevis) through the transfer portal this winter. He’d played his previous two seasons at Arkansas and started 11-of-12 games for the Razorbacks in 2024, registering 57 tackles, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions.
Although Metcalf has only been with the program for a short time and hadn’t previously been a part of Martindale’s system, it hasn’t stopped him from making a good impression on the veteran defensive coordinator so far as he looks to carve out a starting role.
“I think he’s gonna be really good. It’s like he’s been here for two years,” Martindale said of Metcalf at a media availability on Saturday.
Quickly making a good impression and adjusting to the new scheme bodes well for Metcalf, but it also might make a big difference for the secondary as a whole. Even though Michigan has plenty of viable options at cornerback and safety, none of them have much experience at the college level, with guys like Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill only getting their first extended runs of playing time last year. The lone exception is Rod Moore, who Martindale mentioned is still working his way back from injury and the coaching staff is only trying to ease him back into action.
A guy like Metcalf that can step in and contribute right away after facing high-caliber competition in the SEC makes for one less thing the staff will have to worry about as it tries to solve the puzzle that the secondary mix is.
Another layer of Michigan’s situation in the secondary is the fact that seemingly everyone has taken reps at multiple positions. This offseason, we’ve heard Brandyn Hillman, Mason Curtis, Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry and Tevis Metcalf have gotten reps at nickel to try and find a good candidate for the role.
When asked if anything has been sorted out in the secondary so far in terms of who will play where, Martindale said the group is still, “mixing and matching” and they would be continuing to see how the competition plays out as camp continues. Versatility appears to be something Martindale values, and it’s just one more thing Metcalf has going for him.
“(Metcalf) is versatile, we’ll probably play more personnels and different types of things this fall,” Martindale said. “I think he’s going to do a lot of things that are going to be fun to watch.”
As the pieces start to fall into place, it appears more and more likely Metcalf will be playing a big role in the secondary. Having someone with experience, especially against good competition, will go a long way as the Wolverines eventually try to get more of the younger guys like Shamari Earls, Jordan Young and Jo’Ziah Edmond involved later in the season. That experience could also prove to be important when the Wolverines face another SEC opponent in Week 2 when they travel to Oklahoma.