Houston — In high school, Michigan recruited dual-threat quarterback Michael Barrett to fill a defensive position that is no longer part of their plan. Even though his role shrank in 2021 and he started to feel like the “old head” on a team full of “young guys” in 2022, he continued to stay.
Barrett made the decision to rejoin the Wolverines for his sixth season in 2023. After being chosen as captain, he played every game as Michigan won a perfect regular season. He went on to become the most successful player in U-M history and one of the conference’s top linebackers. And he won a national championship on Monday night at NRG Stadium.
Barrett, his eligibility elapsed, departs Michigan with his legacy assured. As he put it: “The one that stayed.” as well as a national champion.
Additionally, the Wolverines’ defense cemented their own legacy throughout the Rose Bowl matchup with Alabama and the CFP National Championship Game against Washington. Michigan was the team who put an end to Jalen Milroe, who had beaten every opponent in the SEC. Michael Penix Jr. was hammered by Michigan, which also limited the Huskies to only 13 points on 13 possessions.
What a chance we had to play against the top offense, quarterback, and receiver group in the league in our final game as the top defense. to demonstrate that we are the best defense out there. Man, that’s what we wanted to do,” Barrett remarked to TMI. We’ll always be regarded as having one of the finest defenses in the nation when we go down in history. throughout history.
“.. Man, we truly wanted to be known as one of the greatest defenses in the nation, if not the greatest defensive ever, we told each other. We had to go the field and perform against the nation’s top offensive. We kind of carried that out. We had complete faith in one another. went, did the job, and won the dub.
Barrett attempted to describe the feeling as the confetti kept falling on the grass at NRG Stadium. Six years ago, he made a pledge to Michigan because he felt that U-M valued him more than other programs.
At the time, his father told The Michigan Insider, “He felt overlooked by the star ratings and I told him, ‘Someone see through those stars,’ and Coach Harbaugh saw through the stars.”
And Monday marked the culmination of his long college career.
“It’s indescribable, dude. Barrett remarked, “It still feels like a dream. “All my life, I’ve dreamed about this moment. Really, simply being able to have fun right now. It seems so strange, guy, that it’s finally here and you can watch all of this confetti and maize fall. It defies explanation.
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