Zeke Berry has gotten a ton of buzz this spring and Makari Paige added to it for the Michigan football defensive back this week.

It feels like there are a lot of Michigan football players hungry to prove something in the 2024 season and one of them is defensive back Zeke Berry.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound defensive back is entering his junior season but has yet to break into the starting lineup. The former four-star recruit played in 11 games last season but with a void on the defense with the departure of Mike Sainristil, plus the injury to Rod Moore, Berry is one Wolverine who needs to step up.

Yet, Berry did just that this spring. Even Sherrone Moore was singing his praises and there has been talk that Berry could be an All-American in the future. That might just be offseason buzz but Michigan football veteran Makari Paige reinforced that buzz at Big Ten Media Days this week.

Zeke Berry compared to former first-round pick

“I’ll start with Zeke Berry…he’s going to be real good,” Paige said via Michigan Wolverines on SI “Brandyn Hillman, same thing with him…He’s gonna be really good. So those guys right there. Jyaire Hill is going to be really good as well. A lot of young guys guys a lot of talent.”

In regards to Berry, Paige, a multi-year starter for Michigan football and maybe the most underrated player on defense, compared Zeke to former first-round pick Dax Hill.

“He’s just so smooth. Like, he kind of reminds me of Dax Hill a little bit, the way he moves, the way he plays, it’s similar to Dax,” Paige said of Berry. “But, yeah, he’s just so smooth with everything he do, and he just makes plays.”

Berry has been competing with Ja’Den McBurrows for the nickel job and it feels like he has a slight edge heading into fall camp. But he can play safety too and one way or another, Michigan football needs Berry to meet those expectations.