1 month ago
- Wolverines Football
- Published: Apr. 25, 2026, 1:05 p.m.
Michigan’s starring tackler has a location astatine nan adjacent level. And for illustration his teammate Derrick Moore, he’s staying nearby.
Jimmy Rolder, a second-team all-Big Ten linebacker successful 2025, was selected by nan Detroit Lions successful nan 4th information of nan 2026 NFL Draft connected Saturday, prime No. 118.
Rolder was nan 4th Michigan subordinate to perceive his sanction called successful this year’s draft, and 3rd connected nan protect broadside of nan ball.
The 6-foot-2, 238-pound wrong linebacker is coming disconnected nan astir productive play of his assemblage career, totaling 73 tackles (seven for a loss) and 2 sacks for nan 9-4 Wolverines. Rolder was adept successful nan passing crippled too, notching an interception while defending 3 passes.
Rolder had 7 games this autumn pinch six aliases much tackles. He scored 8 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, and his first profession interception successful a triumph complete Washington. A week later he turned his champion crippled of nan season, a 10-tackle capacity against in-state rival Michigan State that saw Rolder break up a walk and retrieve a fumble.
Rolder piled up a career-high 12 tackles successful a nonaccomplishment to Ohio State.
Injuries plagued nan Orland Park, Ill., autochthonal for portions of his Michigan career. After appearing successful 13 games arsenic a existent freshman successful 2022, Rolder missed nan first half of nan ’23 play owed to wounded and has missed azygous games present and location owed to “little stuff.”
He’s by each accounts patient and fresh to play astatine nan adjacent level, wherever Rolder projects arsenic an eventual starter astatine wrong linebacker. He posted a 36-inch vertical jump astatine nan NFL Scouting Combine this year, on pinch a nine-foot, 11-inch wide jump, seven-second three-cone drill and 4.26-second 20-yard shuttle.
Rolder’s spot and equilibrium astatine nan constituent of interaction make him a beardown tackler and he’s seemingly ever astir nan ball, moreover if his size and velocity are considered below-average.
A erstwhile four-star recruit, Rolder starred astatine Marist High School successful Illinois, wherever he led nan squad successful tackles arsenic a elder (115) and reached nan authorities semifinals. He committed to Michigan retired of precocious schoolhouse and played 4 seasons, sticking pinch nan Wolverines contempt making conscionable 11 starts.
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Aaron McMann is nan main hit writer covering nan University of Michigan shot programme for MLive Media Group, wherever he's worked since 2014. He went from covering precocious schoolhouse sports successful nan Flint area to a...
