Michigan Football recruiting: Top defensive backs who joined the CFB national champs ft. Jaden Mangham and others
Michigan football has their sights set on back-to-back national titles after defeating Washington in the 2023 College Football Playoff national championship game. The Wolverines have lost many of their top defensive backs ahead of the 2024 season but have received some suitable replacements.
Here's a look at the top defensive backs who have joined Michigan football in their pursuit of a second consecutive national title:
Top defensive backs joining Michigan football in 2024
Jaden Mangham, S
Safety Jaden Mangham will be leaving Michigan State after two seasons and has committed to play for the Spartans biggest rivals in 2024. Michigan football recruited Mangham from the transfer portal, and he will commit on May 17.
Mangham appeared in 11 games for the Spartans last season and ranked sixth in the Big Ten with four total interceptions. He also recorded 53 tackles, one fumble recovery and three pass breakups.
He was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022 and will be a valuable addition to Michigan football's safety unit, which includes Makari Paige, Rod Moore, Quinten Johnson, Zeke Berry and Brandyn Hillman returning this season.
Wesley Walker, S
Former Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Louisville safety Wesley Walker will join Michigan football as a sixth-year senior. Walker, who has played 45 career games, will be a huge veteran asset to the Wolverines secondary.
He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2019 and originally attended Georgia Tech. After three seasons at Georgia Tech, he transferred to Tennessee, where he played two seasons up until 2023. He entered the transfer portal following the 2023 season and spent a short time at Louisville before reentering the transfer portal and committing to Michigan.
Walker finished last season with 53 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one forced fumble as a key member of a defense that allowed just 20.3 points per game.
Aamir Hall, CB
Cornerback Aamir Hall is another Michigan football recruit that will be a welcome addition to their secondary. The Wolverines lost both Mike Sainristil and Josh Wallace to the 2024 NFL Draft, so Hall should help them add to their depth at that position.
Hall began his career at Richmond, where he spent two seasons and grabbed two total interceptions. He transferred to Albany in 2023 and posted an impressive 37 solo tackles, one forced fumble and five interceptions.
Hall will now join the returning Will Johnson, Jyaire Hill, Myles Pollard and Kody Jones in Michigan's cornerback unit.
Ricky Johnson, CB
UNLV cornerback Ricky Johnson is another top Michigan football recruit who will be joining their secondary in 2024. The three-star recruit from the class of 2020 played four seasons at UNLV and ranked fourth in the MWC with three interceptions during the 2021 season.
In 2023, Johnson finished with 36 total tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and ranked 10th in passes defended, with 7. Johnson offers another veteran presence in the secondary for Michigan and joins Aamir Hall as top cornerback transfers heading to Michigan this season.