5 reasons to be wildly optimistic about Michigan Football in 2022

The defense is going to be damn good

I have a similar feeling about this defense as I had last year and that was that it was going to be pretty good. Last year, the Wolverines will be better than pretty good and this defense will be too.

Aidan Hutchinson was the breakout player last year, among a few. But this year, it’s going to be Mazi Smith. You can just sense that the guy named Bruce Feldman’s biggest freak is going to put himself into first-round pick conversations.

Smith was underrated for what he did last season and he’s only going to get better. I also expect a huge leap from Junior Colson (as in All-American caliber) and the cornerback room is stacked.

DJ Turner, Gemon Green, Mike Sainristil, and Will Johnson give Michigan a ton of options. Every coach has said Will Johnson is exactly what you expect from a five-star corner and others are holding him off — that’s impressive.

Sainristil is a natural and ESPN listed Turner as a top-100 college football player and Green has been a camp standout. Mike Morris is going to be a beast as is Kris Jenkins.

RJ Moten, Smith, Morris, Colson, Jenkins, Turner, and Will Johnson are all going to be NFL players someday along with a bunch of others, not to mention a former five-star pass rusher (Eyabi Anoma) recently added who had six sacks at the FCS level last season (not nothing).

This defense is stacked with talent and after getting up to speed against some cupcakes, it will be locked and loaded for Big Ten play.