Michigan Football: 3 Potential Breakout Players on Defense

Derrick Moore

Another EDGE player, Derrick Moore is a player everyone should be very excited about. A former top-100 recruit, Moore saw a good amount of playing time as a freshman in 2022.

Moore flashed tons of potential, and he’s my bet to be the next Michigan football EDGE player taken in the 1st round (although it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s Braiden McGregor).

Obviously, Moore wasn’t physically ready last season to truly compete in the Big Ten, like most freshmen linemen. That’s why it’s so typical to see a sophomore leap in production. That’s what I expect from Moore this season.

I predict that Moore will be a starter on the defensive line and will wreak havoc in opposing backfields. It really wouldn’t surprise me if he got to 10+ sacks. With a full year under Ben Herbert and Jesse Minter, Moore should be physically and mentally ready to be a force in the Big Ten.

With how dominant the interior defensive line is expected to be, Michigan football would really benefit from having a star on the EDGE. I think Moore will be that guy. He’s a player I’m extremely excited about, and he’s a player whose name will be known by week three.