3 Reasons Michigan Football will have an elite defense in 2020

Daxton Hill will give the Wolverines a new weapon

Looking back at 2016, which was the best defense Don Brown has had at Michigan, he had Jabrill Peppers, who was the ultimate weapon and really, the Wolverines have never replaced him.

That’s not a knock on Khaleke Hudson who was exceptional as a viper, he just couldn’t impact the game in as many ways as Peppers, who could cover, blitz, play the run — do it all.

Well, Michigan football will have a weapon like that again in 2020 and his name is Daxton Hill.

Not only does Hill have the kind of speed (4.3 in the 40) Michigan needs to contend with Ohio State, like Peppers, he’s a good tackler and Don Brown just said he might be the best cover guy in the Big Ten conference.

“He can fit in anywhere he wants to fit in – that’s how talented this guy is,” Brown said. “Obviously, he’s a safety by trade, but he’s a nickel by trade, as well.”

This year, I think we’ll see Hill play a bunch in the slot and also at safety. I’d love to see Hill utilized the way former Michigan football player Charles Woodson was in the NFL.

The Packers used him for run support, so they were essentially always in their nickel package. Woodson also blitzed from everywhere and wreaked havoc, while also being an elite cover guy, at least for his first few years there.

That’s exactly the kind of player Hill can be and that’s the player Michigan needs him to be. The Wolverines need difference makers and Hill is one. He can be an eraser in terms of limiting big plays both against the run with tackling or in coverage down the field.

You need defenders who can get those elite athletes down to the ground and Hill fits the mold perfectly. And with a year under his belt, he’ll be one of the Big Ten’s best defenders this season.