The Michigan Wolverines have one of the best secondaries in college football and defensive back Zeke Berry is a big part of it. A former four-star recruit who hails from Concord, California's De La Salle High School, Berry took a leap forward in terms of his playmaking abilities, skills and consistency late last season while charged with replacing former Wolverines star Will Johnson, who was injured at the time. Now, Berry is preparing to charge forward into the 2025-26 season as a leader and expected star of a defense that many believe will be one of college football's best.
Michigan Coach Shares Revealing Update on Practice Status of DB Zeke Berry originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Michigan Wolverines have one of the best secondaries in college football and defensive back Zeke Berry is a big part of it.
A former four-star recruit who hails from Concord, California's De La Salle High School, Berry took a leap forward in terms of his playmaking abilities, skills and consistency late last season while charged with replacing former Wolverines star Will Johnson, who was injured at the time.
Now, Berry is preparing to charge forward into the 2025-26 season as a leader and expected star of a defense that many believe will be one of college football's best.
On Monday, Berry's practice status got a key update from coach LaMar Morgan, who is in charge of the defensive backs in Ann Arbor.
Morgan was asked about Michigan's plan for the versatile, playmaking defensive back and had a varied answer.
"I think it's the same plan," Morgan said. "Zeke is playing inside and outside right now. Every day at practice, those guys get nickel reps and outside, so there's a lot of time scripting practice periods and that stuff.
"But that's our plan for Zeke, just to move him around."
Speculation was that Berry may step up and become a full-time outside corner now that Johnson is in the NFL.
It appears as though he will be much more multiple than that in coach Wink Martindale's defense this season.
"I don't want to put my kids in one box," Morgan said. "You just do one thing all the time, only certain teams like you because you only do this. My job is to make the NFL figure out what he can and cannot do, not just give it to him."
Morgan added that Berry has done a good job pushing through adversity while highlighting the importance of taking care of his body moving into the new season, which begins on Aug. 30 in Ann Arbor.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
