News update:When you see this you know it Sherrone Moore effect

We look at players’ basic info, career at Michigan, current projections, what scouts will like, questions they can answer in Indianapolis and their schedule for the week.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine figures to be a busy one for the 2023 Michigan football team. In fact, with a record 18 players invited and nearly half of them viewed as potential top-100 prospects, the Wolverines’ week in Indianapolis will be as busy as any college team’s has ever been

To help prepare readers for the event, we are previewing each player’s Combine appearance. We look at players’ basic info, career at Michigan, current projections, what scouts will like, questions they can answer in Indianapolis and their schedule for the week

Michigan’s all-time leader in games played (64) and wins participated in (52), Barrett had quite a journeyman career in Ann Arbor. A dual-threat quarterback recruit expected to play running back for the Wolverines, Barrett quickly switched to Michigan’s then-coveted VIPER position, but took a while to make Michigan’s two-deep. Through his first two seasons with the Wolverines, Barrett had played just 29 defensive snaps, compared to 226 special teams snaps

In 2020, he ended up third on the team with 44 tackles in six games, but got lost in the shuffle when Michigan changed its defensive scheme, ditched the VIPER role and moved Barrett to inside linebacker. In 2021, just 186 of his 447 overall snaps were on defense, compared to 433 of 478 in 2020. But in 2022, departures at linebacker and a change in defensive coordinator offered a fresh set of eyes, and allowed Barrett to push for and, after Nikhai Hill-Green’s injury, win the role as starting WILL linebacker. He finished the 2022 season, his fifth in Ann Arbor, with 72 tackles, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups and two interceptions. 

Then as a senior, Barrett was even more instrumental to Michigan’s success. Serving as a captain and starting all 15 games for the Wolverines, Barrett finished the year with 65 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two pass breakups and 19 quarterback pressures. He was named third-team All-Big Ten, and etched his name in Michigan history in helping lead the Wolverines to a national title.

Barrett will be seen as a plus in every intangible department. The linebacker has proven positional flexibility, documented leadership and a work ethic that will garner strong recommendations from everyone who coached him. His motor on the field and work ethic in the weight room matched anyone on Michigan’s team, and he showed he will take on any role offered at Michigan. He has logged 634 special teams snaps in his career as well as 1,875 defensive snaps, so he’s as experienced as they come.