The 2024 offseason was a blast for the Michigan Wolverines. After flipping elite quarterback Bryce Underwood away from LSU, the Wolverines closed their 2025 recruiting class on a heater and finished with their highest-ranked class in years. Now, the team looks to continue their momentum from the end of 2024 into a successful year two for head coach Sherrone Moore. 

Who are some defensive players for the Wolverines who could enjoy breakout seasons in 2025 and help Michigan keep their momentum rolling from 2024?

3 Wolverines who can be a breakout star on defense in 2025

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EDGE Cameron Brandt

Derrick Moore and TJ Guy are likely the starting edge rushers for the Wolverines next fall, but the next part of their rotation will have to step up with Josaiah Stewart off to the NFL.

Those open snaps fall to sophomore Cameron Brandt to be their next man up. Brandt played a solid chunk of snaps this season, putting up 14 pressures and three sacks as a rotational rusher, including one against Alabama in the team's bowl game. An intriguing athlete, Brandt flashed his potential all season. The door is open for him to be a breakout rusher in 2025.  

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SAF Brandyn Hillman

While former All-American safety Rod Moore will return to the Wolverines for 2025, Michigan lost Wesley Walker, Quinten Jonhson, and Makari Paige. Even with Moore's return, the Wolverines are going to need reinforcements at safety. 

Brandyn Hillman deserves a shot to be the next man up for Michigan's secondary. While he only played limited snaps in 2024 as part of their rotation, Hillman flashed his ability, generating two PBUs on nine targets. In their bowl game against Alabama, Michigan rotated Hillman around, including blitzing him off of the line of scrimmage to generate a sack. The big hitter can be a fun complement to Moore in 2025. 

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DT Trey Pierce

Both Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant are headed off to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, leaving a massive (literally) hole in the middle of Michigan's defense. That opens the door for some younger players to lead the way. One of those players who has seemingly grasped the opportunity is sophomore Trey Pierce.

Pierce mainly played in some of Michigan's blowout games against Arkansas State, Illinois, and Michigan State but didn't record much in the stats department. However, he's a 6'2, 315-pound run stuffer, finishing with five defensive stops, including two in the Wolverines' bout against Oregon. With the door ahead of him wide open, I'd expect Pierce to become a key part of Michigan's rotation up front defensively.