Michigan Football: what to look for during the Spring Game
Defense
Michigan’s defense still has many question marks floating around. With stars like Daxton Hill, Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and more departing for the NFL draft, the Wolverines’ defense will see a plethora of new, young faces stepping up to fill the holes. Here is what you should be watching in defense.
Defensive line
With the loss of its three best players — Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, and Chris Hinton — the Wolverines’ defensive line will need a lot of work to compete at the same level as it did in 2021. That being said, there are still a few notable names to keep an eye on.
Mike Morris is projected to fill the shoes of Heisman runner-up Aidan Hutchinson, and there is a good chance he has already locked up a starting job. Although he came to Ann Arbor as a three-star recruit, Morris’s large frame could be a deadly asset in Michigan’s defensive arsenal if coached and developed correctly.
Mazi Smith, the senior out of Grand Rapids, MI, will be replacing Christopher Hinton on the interior of the Wolverines’ defensive line.
Smith started all 14 games at defensive tackle in 2021 and earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention. Now the likely front-runner for DT1 in 2022, Smith could be gearing up for a monster senior season.
Linebackers
Michigan’s linebacker corps was led by Josh Ross in 2021; however, since Ross was included in the long list of defensive losses heading into 2022, the Wolverines will look for a handful of new starting linebackers.
Among the most notable names is Junior Colson, the sophomore out of Brentwood, TN. Colson turned heads all season long as a freshman, making an appearance in all 14 of Michigan’s games. Colson came to Ann Arbor as a four-star recruit and will undoubtedly receive a starting role in 2022. Only in his second year of college could Colson very well become Michigan’s next defensive star.
Nikhai Hill-Green and Jaylen Harrell are two more names to keep an eye on, and the possible return to linebacker by 5th-year senior Mike Barrett. Barrett played the “Viper” position in Don Brown’s 2020 defense and could transition back into a linebacker spot if needed.
Defensive backs
With numerous defensive backs leaving the program this offseason, Michigan football seems to be a bit bare in its defensive backfield. Still, the Wolverines have plenty of talent on their way in and deep on the depth chart, so there should be little-to-no issue filling the holes.
DJ Turner, one of Michigan’s defensive stars from 2021, will be returning. A fantastic, battle-tested zone-corner, Turner will likely be the leader of Michigan’s secondary heading into 2022. Alongside some younger faces, having a stand-out player like Turner in coverage will help Michigan tremendously.
Alongside Turner, the Wolverines’ will have their highest-rated player in the 2021 recruiting class — five-star freshman Will Johnson. With a large frame and plenty of speed, Johnson is already projected to be a three to four-year starter at Michigan, barring injuries or other outside factors. Johnson may find a role as a slot corner or as an outside guy, but either way will be a name to watch heading into the spring game.
Other names to watch include Gemon Green, RJ Moten, and Rod Moore, who will all be looking for more reps heading into the 2022 season. This fall, all three could become starters and should be fun to watch on April 2nd.