Michigan Football: 5 Wolverines freshmen that are needed in 2019

Mazi Smith

One concern that has come up about Michigan’s defense is a possible lack of depth at defensive tackle. Well, one incoming freshman that can help add more depth up front is Mazi Smith.

Smith is a classic nose-tackle type and is 6-foot-3 and around 300 pounds. He’s tough, physical and tough to move in the middle.

Over the past few years, that kind of run-stopping role has gone to guys like Brian Mone, who didn’t put up huge numbers but helped plug the hole in the middle. The job of a nose isn’t necessarily to make a bunch of stops, it’s to take up blockers and plug a gap.

Smith can do this as well as just about any freshmen defensive tackle in the country and even though Michigan has a number of experienced guys ahead of him like Carlo Kemp, Michael Dwumfour and Donovan Jeter, none of them are as good a fit in that role as Smith.