Michigan football's top CB Jyaire Hill set to return for senior season
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Michigan football has seen a mass exodus of defensive backs, but its top dog is staying in place.
Jyaire Hill, the Wolverines‘ top cornerback, will return to Ann Arbor in the 2026 season. The defensive back posted the team’s bat signal that signifies a return, “LFG147,” with a graphic of him in a Michigan uniform on Instagram on Sunday, Jan. 11.
Hill, a junior, recorded 36 tackles, five pass breakups, an interception (against Ohio State), a sack and fumble recovery in 2025. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound corner out of Kankakee, Illinois, was named All-Big Ten honorable mention after he saw the second-most snaps on U-M last season behind only defensive back T.J. Metcalf.
He was eligible for the NFL draft and would’ve likely been a Day 2 or Day 3 pick, or he could’ve entered the transfer portal like many in the secondary have. Ultimately, he chose to return to Michigan under new coach Kyle Whittingham.
A number of players in the back end have ended up in the portal including Brandyn Hillman, Jordan Young, Jayden Sanders, Elijah Dotson, Jaden Mangham and Metcalf. Michigan was able to keep one former secondary member who entered the portal but has since returned to the program in Zeke Berry.
Hill has played in 28 games in his career.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football’s top CB Jyaire Hill to return for senior season
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