Michigan Football: 10 most important Wolverines for 2021 season

7. Chris Hinton

When Chris Hinton signed with Michigan football, he was listed as a five-star recruit according to some services, but so far, the big defensive tackle hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Still, the buzz has been positive this offseason about Hinton. He notched 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack in 2020, but needs to be more consistent and more disruptive.

Mazi Smith and Hinton, who were basically each top-100 recruits, should be able to dominate inside. That’s what this defense needs and it won’t reach its full potential unless it gets a solid year from Hinton and also Smith.

Michigan football was run over last season and that shouldn’t happen. It can’t happen in 2021 if this wants to improve its win total.

6. Gemon Green

The pass defense also needs to improve and a huge part of that will be cornerback Gemon Green. He had his struggles last season but improved as the season went on and finished with a team-high eight pass breakups.

Green is long and fast. He was a really good get for Michigan football out of the state of Texas and this season, with a new defensive coordinator, I think that Green is going to excel.

Sure, he’s going to get beat at times. But I don’t think the secondary will be left alone on an island as much. And if the pass rush is better, it will make Green’s job much easier.

He oozes potential and this season, he starts to realize it, developing into a true No. 1 style cornerback for the Wolverines. Michigan needs that in a bad way which is why he’s No. 6.