3 post-spring breakout candidates for Michigan football on defense

If Michigan football is going to win a fourth consecutive Big Ten championship, the Wolverines are going to need some players to step up.

We have already looked at some potential breakout candidates for the offense. Now, we are turning our attention to the defense. Michigan football should have one of the best defenses in all of college football next season.

Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant anchor the defense up front. Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart is also one of the best EDGE pairings in the country. Michigan football has two stellar linebackers too in Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham, plus Will Johnson leading the secondary.

An injury to Rod Moore certainly hurt. Michigan also lost some players to the transfer portal and with all that in mind, here are three breakout candidates for the Wolverines on defense in 2024

Zeke Berry, DB

It might be best to just call Zeke Berry a defensive back this season because he's going to play some safety and some nickel for Michigan football in the secondary.

With the lack of depth at cornerback, having Berry take over the nickel role from Mike Sainristil might be the ideal scenario. Berry flashed during the spring game and seems to have taken a step forward following the injury to Rod Moore.

Whether Berry is taking the role that Moore played last season, or whether he's used in the nickel role, Berry, a former top-200 recruit, needs to realize his potential. If he does, that would answer a huge question facing the Michigan football secondary.