What we learned about Michigan Football D-line this spring

We take our position-by-position review of the Michigan football roster after spring ball to the defense and begin with the defensive line. 

There are lots of reasons to be optimistic about Michigan football heading into the 2023 season. The Wolverines are loaded on offense and both sides of the ball really.

Michigan football suffered a bunch of departures. That’s what happens when you have a bunch of NFL talent and the defensive line was hit especially hard with the losses of Mike Morris, Eyabi Okie, Taylor Upshaw, and of course, Mazi Smith.

Morris and Mazi Smith are tough pieces to replace. Morris was hurt at the end of the last season but he was the Wolverines’ best pass rusher prior to that. Smith is being talked about as a first-round pick and he was a driving force behind U-M’s dominant run defense.

Looking back at this spring, there’s no reason to worry about Michigan football’s defensive line, and here’s why.

What we learned about Michigan’s D-line this spring

In terms of the defensive interior, Michigan football is as deep and talented as the Wolverines have been in a long time.

Smith is gone, but Kris Jenkins return was massive. He’s going to be the lead dog this season and that’s saying a lot with Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Rayshaun Benny all taking big steps forward this spring.

Benny looked really good to me during the spring game. I’d have complete confidence in him as a starter and that four-man rotation could be as good as any in college football. Grant and Graham are superstars waiting to happen and they are just sophomores.

Both made impacts as freshmen and it’s fun to think about what they can do with a year of seasoning and an offseason program under their belts.

In terms of pass rushers, Jaylen Harrell, Josaiah Stewart, Derrick Moore, and Braiden McGregor are the top four guys in my book. Harrell is one of the most underrated players on the roster. He’s going to have a breakout season and Moore, in my opinion, will too.

I actually feel really good about McGregor. It took him time to get 100 percent healthy, but he looked the part at the end of last season and he should have a good year too. Plus, Stewart is probably the best pure pass rusher of them all.

So in terms of the defensive line and the EDGE rushers, Michigan football fans should feel really good, because the Wolverines are absolutely loaded.