Michigan Football elite defensive line impressing in spring practice despite sending stars to NFL Draft
Michigan Football is fresh off a national championship. They just sent 18 prospects to the NFL Combine, including their quarterback who will likely be a top ten NFL Draft pick. Surely they're going to take a major step back in 2024, right? That might not be the case if their elite defensive line as has […]
Michigan Football is fresh off a national championship. They just sent 18 prospects to the NFL Combine, including their quarterback who will likely be a top ten NFL Draft pick. Surely they're going to take a major step back in 2024, right? That might not be the case if their elite defensive line as has anything to say about it.
Both the interior defensive line and edge rushers have reportedly been looking absolutely dominant in spring practice, which shouldn't surprise anyone. All four of their returning top defensive front stars Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Derrick Moore, and Josaiah Stewart racked up more than 20 pass rush pressures last fall and posted pressure rates above 11%. If this group takes one more step it could be the best Michigan defensive front of all time.
Derrick Moore (star edge defender for Michigan) spent some time doing interviews this week, and could not stop talking about how special the group was looking this spring. On Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant (on the interior), he said all they do is dominate "no matter what" because they're "just different", able to beat double or triple teams up front at will.
Between the four returning studs on the line, they racked up 20 sacks last year despite two of them being true sophomores. All four were top six pass rushers for the Wolverines last season, and were top 30% pass rushers in the nation in pressure rate among defensive line and edge defenders. They're already the most proven returning defensive line group on paper, but if they each improve even slightly then Michigan will have the best defensive front in the nation, and it won't be close.
It's hard to imagine that the defensive line that just racked up eight sacks and 19 pressures against Alabama and 23 more pressures against Washington in the College Football Playoff could be any better, but it's quite possible. And if incoming transfer star linebacker Jaishawn Barham hits the ground running behind them too? The Michigan defense could carry them back to the College Football Playoff with ease.
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And if you want to watch top highlights from Michigan's Rose Bowl victory over Alabama to remember how dominant this defensive line can be, check out this video below!
