One thing Michigan football has had going for it in recent years is a certain flair, with a roster often comprised of players from Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy.
From Blake Corum and Nikhai Hill-Green in the past and Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham now, the powerhouse high school has often been a pipeline to Ann Arbor. And last week and this week, the former St. Frances head coach, Biff Poggi, will be leading the Wolverines as the acting head coach.
Given that Poggi originally coached Barham in high school, he knows a little more about him than the average coach within Schembechler Hall. Barham originally played for hometown school, Maryland, but transferred to Ann Arbor last season. It took him some time to get acclimated, but he started to show just how good he could be late last year. And this year, he’s been off to the races, showcasing elite ability at linebacker, and this past week, even at edge rusher.
On Monday, Poggi shared more about who Barham is behind the scenes (Barham has not yet met with the media during his year-plus with the program), noting that he shares some similar attributes to another St. Frances Academy standout as well as a former five-star who transferred in this past offseason.
“He’s a beautiful kid. He really is a beautiful kid,” Poggi said. “He doesn’t say much, a quiet person, but a deep thinker, and has a beautiful, wonderful heart. And I think between him and Derrick Moore and a lot of the kids on the team — Justice and a bunch of them — just to tell you what kind of EQ they have, I think they’re looking at me like their elderly Italian grandfather taking care of me. But on the field, when they get between the lines, forget it. He is what you see.”
Barham currently leads the Wolverines with two sacks, both accumulated this past week against Central Michigan. However, he had a big hit (that should have been a sack, but was ruled targeting) in Week 1, which put him out for the first half in Week 2. He’s also leading the team with 2.5 tackles for loss and is fifth, with 12 tackles thus far this season.
Fans will get another opportunity to see Barham in action on Saturday when the Wolverines travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska for the start of Big Ten play.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Biff Poggi opens up on Jaishawn Barham’s personality, leadership and play at Michigan
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
