While Michigan football boasted arguably the best running back and quarterback in program history and an offensive line full of future NFL talent, the Wolverines relied on their defense to win some games en route to the 2023 national championship.
That defensive unit led the country in points allowed per game (9.5), which, along with Georgia’s famed 2021 defense, is the fewest points allowed in a season since Alabama in 2011 (8.2). The Wolverines were also second in total yards (239.7) and passing yards allowed (152.6) and sixth in rushing yards allowed last season.
After losing regular players at linebacker (Junior Colson And Michael Barrett), defensive line (Kris Jenkins), Cornerback (Josh Wallace) and Nickelback (Mike Sainristil), as well as defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and all the other defensive assistants, you would assume that the Wolverines are in for a significant step back in 2024. But in Ann Arbor, the talk is different.
“Yeah, we were scary last year, right? We told you it was going to be bad, like it was going to be bad,” Michigan redshirt junior edge rusher TJ type told reporters this week. “So, we were good last year, we’re trying to get even better, you know? So growth mindset every day, refining details, iron sharpens iron, all that good stuff. We were good last year. We’re going to get even better than last year.”
Perhaps this can be chalked up to the usual talk leading up to fall practice, but the Wolverines undoubtedly have the personnel to back up Guy’s words. Will Johnson returns as arguably the best cornerback in all of college football, and the same goes for Mason Graham as a defensive tackle. Throw a junior colleague Kenneth Grant and you may have the best defensive tackle duo in the nation. The loss of the All-Big Ten safety Rod Moore in spring training was a big blow, but Michigan did well by bringing in a pair of safeties from the transfer portal in Wesley Walker (Tennessee) and Jaden Mangham (Michigan State), all of whom started at their previous school.
The conditions for the Wolverines’ new defense team to develop into a top unit in America are in place. This is the responsibility of the new defense coordinator Wink Martindalewho replaced Minter and Michael Macdonald Before him, two guys at the Baltimore Ravens were involved in Martindale’s development.
Guy said the defenders have great confidence in Martindale and the new defensive staff and expect to produce impressive numbers again in 2024.
“He’s seen a lot,” Guy said of Martindale. “He said to us the other day, ‘How many huddles do you think I’ve seen?’ So, since he’s been coaching — well, bro. He’s probably seen over 400 huddles, so he knows — one thing he brings is knowledge. And I’m just saying, this defense is going to be scary. Like, seriously. Nobody’s going to know where this came from. Nobody’s going to know what we’re doing. It’s going to be so fun. Everyone’s going to get a turn to eat. Everyone’s going to have stats. It’s going to be fun. So fun.”
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