The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1386887
[ D E F E N S I V E L I N E ] 100 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2021 FOOTBALL PREVIEW PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACH Shaun Nua is in his third season as Michigan's defensive line coach. Michigan's defense struggled as a whole in 2020, and Nua's group battled key injuries to ends Aidan Hutchinson and Kwity Paye. The Wolverines finished 79th nation- ally in run defense (178.3 yards per game), 119th in tackles for loss (4.2 per game) and 104th in sacks (1.5 per game). After two seasons working with Nua, Paye was selected No. 21 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. During his first season in Ann Arbor in 2019, Nua mentored a group that helped the Wolverines rank 11th nationally in total defense and 25th in scoring defense. As a team, the Wolverines finished 59th in tackles for loss per game (6.1) and 21st in sacks per game (2.77). Hutchinson (third team, coaches; honorable men- tion, media), Paye (second team, coaches; third team, media), and Carlo Kemp (third team, coaches) each earned All-Big Ten honors. During his lone campaign with Arizona State (2018), Nua helped the Sun Devils finish tied for 39th in tack- les for loss per game (6.7) and 73rd in yards allowed per game (404.4). Those were improvements from tied for 53rd and 109th, respectively, the year prior. Prior to his tenure at Arizona State, Nua spent six years (2012-17) working with the defensive line at the Naval Academy. Most notably, the Midshipmen won a single-season school-record 11 games and finished in the top 25 in 2015. Before his years at the Naval Academy, he worked three seasons at BYU as an intern and a graduate assistant. In 2010 and 2011, BYU cracked the top 25 in total defense. Nua was a talented defensive lineman during his playing days, as well. He was named to the All-Moun- tain West second team following his senior season at BYU and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 NFL Draft. Nua played in the league for four years and was a member of the 2006 Super Bowl champions. RETURNING PLAYERS JAYLEN HARRELL • DE Fr. • Tampa, Fla. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 235 • Appeared in four games on special teams in 2020 and con- tributed four tackles. • Was a candidate for the 2019 High School Butkus Award, given to the nation's top high school linebacker. • Tabbed by Rivals as a three-star recruit, the No. 70 player in Florida and the No. 31 outside line- backer in the nation. CHRISTOPHER HINTON • DT So. • Johns Creek, Ga. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 305 • Saw action in all six games with four starts in 2020, and com- piled 13 tackles, two stops for loss, one sack and two passes broken up. • Played in 12 games with one start during the 2019 season and totaled 10 tackles with a half tackle for loss. • Named to the MaxPreps' Small School All-America first team in 2018 and The Atlanta Journal-Consti- tution's All-State first team in 2017 and 2018. • Competed in the All-American Bowl and notched one tackle and recovered a fumble. • Listed by Rivals as a five-star prospect, and the No. 2 defensive tackle and No. 15 overall player in the nation. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2020 6/4 13 2.0 1 2019 12/1 10 0.5 0 Totals 18/5 23 2.5 1 AIDAN HUTCHINSON • DE Jr. • Plymouth, Mich. Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 269 • Registered 15 tackles in three starts before an injury held him out of the final three contests of the 2020 campaign. • Started all 13 games during the 2019 season, and posted 68 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, six passes broken up, four quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. • Tabbed third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and honorable mention by the media. • Shared the 2019 Richard Katcher Award for the team's best defensive lineman with Kwity Paye. • Recorded 15 tackles and 1.5 stops for loss over 13 games during his true freshman season. • Named the team's 2018 Rookie of the Year on defense. • Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and finished with four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. • Regarded by Rivals as a four-star talent, and the No. 8 strongside defensive end and No. 129 over- all player in the nation. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2020 3/3 15 0 0 2019 13/13 68 10 4.5 2018 13/0 15 1.5 0 Totals 29/16 98 11.5 4.5 KRIS JENKINS • DT Fr. • Olney, Md. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 265 • Appeared in one game on the defensive line and special teams as a freshman in 2020. • Named Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Co-Defen- sive Player of the Year in 2019. • Ranked as a three-star recruit, the No. 16 player in Maryland and the No. 19 strongside de- fensive end by Rivals. DONOVAN JETER • DT R-Jr. • Beaver Falls, Pa. Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 318 • Appeared in all six games with four starts in 2020, and regis- tered 11 tackles, one pass bro- ken up and a fumble recovery for touchdown. • Played in 10 games at defensive tackle during the 2019 season and contributed on special teams in one. • Saw snaps in seven games on the defensive line and also played special teams for three contests in 2018, after redshirting as a freshman. • Posted 76 tackles, 15 stops for loss, 10 sacks, one fumble recovery and three passes broken up his senior year at Beaver Falls. • Tabbed by USA Today as an All-State first-team selection in 2016. • Rated as a four-star recruit, the No. 7 prospect in Pennsylvania and the No. 13 defensive tackle nationally by Rivals. Year GP/GS Tkls. TFL Sacks 2020 6/4 11 0 0 2019 10/0 0 0 0 2018 7/0 3 0 0 Totals 23/4 14 0 0 BRAIDEN MCGREGOR • DE Fr. • Port Huron, Mich. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 260 • Did not see the field during his first year in 2020. • Enrolled early in January 2020. • Was a Detroit News Division 1-2 first-team All-State selection in 2018 and 2019; was named to the Division 2 first team by The Detroit Free Press in 2018. • Listed as a four-star recruit, the No. 11 player in Michigan and the No. 17 strongside defensive end in the country by Rivals. MIKE MORRIS • DE R-Fr. • Belle Glade, Fla. Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 276 • Participated in one game on the defensive line and special teams during the 2020 cam- paign, and made one tackle. • Did not see game action in 2019. • Tallied 89 stops, 25 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a punt block for a touchdown during his senior