A really strong pass rush means having more than one threat, especially on the edge. Michigan football knows it has one of the best EDGE rushers in college football, John Henry Daley, who was named a preseason All-American.
Henry Daley, who transferred from Utah after 11.5 sacks last season, to go along with 17.5 tackles for loss, looks "more explosive than ever" according to Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Henry Daley is coming off a season-ending injury. He still has something to prove, like some others along the defensive line, such as Nate Marshall.
The top-50 overall recruit in the 2025 class played in 11 games as a freshman but saw a limited role. The immense talent is getting hard to ignore. Whittingham mentioned Marshall as one of three Michigan football players who really raised their stock during fall camp.
Marshall's emergence could be critical for the Wolverines' defense, because outside of Henry Daley, there isn't really another proven pass rusher on the roster. Cameron Brandt, who will likely play a lot due to his ability as a run defender, has just 3.5 sacks over the past two seasons.
Dominic Nichols is another pass rusher to know. It feels like Henry Daley, Marshall, Nichols, and Carter Meadows are some others who are in line to play the most this season.
Michigan football needs another pass rusher to emerge
As good as Henry Daley is, a great pass rusher features more than one great EDGE rusher. That means the Wolverines need Meadows, or Marshall, or both, to play a bigger role than expected.
The early returns on Meadows, the 6-foot-7, 252-pound freshman, have been great. Yet, Whittingham had even more praise for Marshall, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound EDGE. During his press conference this week, the Michigan head coach said Marshall might be the best pass rusher on the team.
If that's true, Marshall and Henry Daley will form quite a tandem on the edge. Meadows and Nichols provide some quality depth, to the point that Michigan should be able to keep them all fresh. That doesn't mean playing everyone equally, as the defense seemed to do at times last season.
It means having waves of elite pass rushers to throw at the offense. It felt like there could just be one this season, but as the season is about to start, it feels like Michigan has the kind of pass rush it will need to have an elite defense, thanks in part to Nate Marshall, who will be a DUDE this season.
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