3 reasons Michigan Football can win the national title in 2023

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh watches as J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up before they take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-Arizona RepublicNcaa Fiesta Bowl Game /

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Syndication: Detroit Free Press /

The defense will be better

We broke it down here recently, but Michigan football fans shouldn’t be surprised if the defense winds up being better next season.

Yes, the Wolverines lost some really talented players. However, a bunch of studs remain and that’s not an understatement. There’s early NFL draft talent on all three levels of the defense.

Kris Jenkins can be a first-round pick. Kenneth Grant, Mason Graham, and Rayshaun Benny are also stellar inside. Derrick Moore is going to be a star on the edge. Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell are due to take a leap and Josaiah Stewart is going to be a terror.

Junior Colson is a potential first-round pick in my opinion. Will Johnson will be a top-10 pick. Mike Sainristil is one of the best nickel backs in the country, and there’s enough corner depth opposite Johnson to get the job done.

Add in an elite safety tandem, more experience like Michael Barrett, plus the fact that Jesse Minter is back for a second season coordinating the defense — it’s going to be scary good.

It might even be the best defense in college football.

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