Roger Zatkoff Award winner as Michigan's top linebacker, drafted by Detroit in the fourth round as the third Wolverine linebacker the Lions have ever taken.
Jimmy Rolder led Michigan's linebacker corps in his final college season and left Ann Arbor with the program's top individual honor at the position. The Lions took him in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, continuing a rare in-state pipeline that dates back decades.
Path to the league
Rolder played for Michigan from 2022 through 2025, developing into a full-time starter by his final season. The Lions selected him with the 118th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, making him the third Michigan linebacker the franchise has ever drafted, joining Andy Cannavino (1981) and Ted Topor (1953).
Career highlights
Rolder is regarded as a coverage-capable linebacker with multi-gap range and sideline-to-sideline speed, traits that scouts believe give him a path to a starting role on the weak side. His combination of instincts and athletic upside in space made him one of the more well-regarded Day 3 linebackers in the 2026 class.
2025 season recap
In his final season at Michigan in 2025, Rolder led the Wolverines with 73 tackles and earned Defensive Player of the Week honors five separate times. He capped the year by winning the Roger Zatkoff Award, given annually to Michigan's most outstanding linebacker.
Sources
- Detroit Lions: Lions draft linebacker Jimmy Rolder
- Detroit News: Jimmy Rolder, Michigan linebacker, selected by Detroit Lions in Round 4
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Michigan
- Hometown
- Orland Park, IL, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
