When Charles Woodson was the best in the country (and he was, winning the Heisman Trophy as the first primarily defensive player to earn the award), it changed college football. But what about who he thinks could follow in his footsteps, at least with the maize and blue?
Now, it should be noted that Woodson isn’t saying that one defensive player is a clone of himself, but he did offer high praise to a Wolverines defender after they announced they’re returning to Michigan football in 2026. And given that there’s a lot of unknowns for the maize and blue in terms of some roster spots, it’s not only good that Michigan is bringing back second-year cornerback Shamari Earls, but also a big positive that Woodson has pegged him as potentially the best corner across college football.
Earls appeared in six games in his freshman campaign, but a mixture of injuries and inexperience had the lanky defensive back working from behind. But with a few corners who managed to surpass him on the depth chart (Jayden Sanders and Elijah Dotson) headed to Notre Dame and Missouri, respectively, Earls has a shot not only to be in the rotation this season, but he could step up and earn minutes not dissimilar from being a starter. However, Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill, last year’s starters, are both returning to Ann Arbor for yet another year.
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Having originally committed to South Carolina, Earls eventually chose between Michigan and Georgia. He first chose the Bulldogs and stayed committed there from the summer up until just before signing day in 2024. He eventually flipped and was one of the prizes of that 2025 class.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: A Michigan legend sees something special in a returning defender
