The Wolverine

2022 Michigan Football Preview

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 87 [ D E F E N S I V E L I N E ] Unlike last season, this year's perceived strength begins on the interior with one of last year's breakout defenders, a spring standout who lived up to the hype. Senior Mazi Smith (6-3, 326) spent his first few seasons in Ann Arbor getting used to the pace of the game at this level and the stamina required to compete on every down. There was a lot of weight on his shoulders given the perceived lack of depth on the defensive line and his importance in the defense, and Smith responded. Last year, he became a force against the run, occupying blockers and closing gaps regularly in notch- ing 37 tackles (15 solo, 2.5 for loss). Even more will be expected of the 2021 honorable mention All-Big Ten selection this season. "The strength of this D-line is going to be up front on the interior," former Michigan All-American and new broadcast team color analyst Jon Jansen said. "They've obvi- ously got the most experience having Mazi Smith back, guys like Kris Jenkins, Mike Morris — I know he can play on the edge as well. You just have some size, some quick- ness, some speed, and that's where the majority of your experience is going to be." It starts with Smith, whose contribution went well beyond his stats. He's got even more to give, and he had an outstanding spring in preparation. Consistency will be key for him, Jansen explained. "Making sure his eyes, hands and head are in the right place, and just owning the middle," Jansen said. "There should be no one player that can block Mazi Smith. He should require a double team on passing downs, and that's going to be a must when you talk about trying to get pressure from the outside. If you can attract a double team at the defensive tackle position, it's going to free up some of those other guys." He's got the quickness and speed, and he has always had the power, Jansen noted. Now it's about doing it at a quicker pace. Finding someone to complement Smith inside was one of Elston's top projects this spring after junior Chris Hinton declared for the NFL Draft. The Wolverines have several candidates to take his place, but Jenkins seems the best bet to get first shot. He appeared in all 14 games with four starts last season, notching 22 tackles and 1 quarterback hurry. Jenkins has continued to improve throughout his tenure, while he's added size [ D E F E N S I V E L I N E ] New position coach Mike Elston returns to U-M, where he played linebacker from 1993-96 and spent four seasons as an assistant from 1997-2000. He worked under Brian Kelly for 17 years at three stops (Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Notre Dame) and spent the last 10 of his 12 years in South Bend coaching the defensive line. Elston coached 12 future NFL draftees during his time with the Irish, including six players in the last three drafts. Every starting defensive end under Jim Harbaugh has been selected in the NFL Draft since the 2016 class. That group of players includes four first-round picks in Taco Charlton (2017, Dallas Cowboys, 28th overall), Rashan Gary (2019, Green Bay Packers, 12th), Kwity Paye (2021, Indianapolis Colts, 21st) and Aidan Hutchinson (2022, Detroit Lions, 2nd). Hutchinson was the highest-drafted U-M defensive player since Charles Woodson (1998, Oakland Raiders, 4th). Central Florida grad transfer Cam Goode will help address the need for depth at defensive tackle and gives Michigan a player with a knack for takeaways. He ranked 12th in the country and led the American Athletic Conference in 2021 with 4 forced fumbles, which was good for fourth-most in program history. The Michigan defense only returns 5.5 out of 34 total sacks from a year ago, and 4.5 of them are attributable to defensive linemen: Taylor Upshaw (2.5), T.J. Guy (1), Mike Morris (0.5) and Julius Welschof (0.5). The Wolverines added three true freshmen to the defensive line rotation in the 2022 cycle, all four- star recruits: edge Derrick Moore (No. 37 overall in On3 Consensus) and defensive tackles Kenneth Grant (No. 264) and Mason Graham (No. 306). Moore and Graham were January enrollees and both went through spring practice with the team. [ F Y I ] THE WOLVERINE 2022 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 87 QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Mike Elston (1st year at U-M). Returning Starters: Mazi Smith (14 career starts). Departing Starters: Aidan Hutchinson (30); Christopher Hinton (19). Projected New Starters: Mike Morris (4), Kris Jenkins (4), Taylor Upshaw (2). Top Reserves: Cam Goode (transfer), Rayshaun Benny, TJ Guy, Braiden McGregor, George Rooks, Julius Welschof (1). Wait Until 2023: Kechaun Bennett, Dominick Guidice, Ike Iwunnah. Newcomers: Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Derrick Moore. Moved In: Goode. Moved Out: Jack Stewart, Gabe Newburgh. Rookie Impact: Graham. Most Improved Player: Jenkins. Best Pro Prospect: Smith. PRESEASON ANALYSIS: STARTERS Senior Mazi Smith is a massive presence at 6-foot-3, 326 pounds who projects to hold down the fort on the interior. The Wolverines will need someone to emerge next to him and to piece together an edge rusher duo that can step in to replace Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo. Senior Mike Morris, graduate student Taylor Upshaw and junior Jaylen Harrell figure to get the bulk of the snaps there, but they have quite the leap to make from role players to consistent contributors. DEPTH ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ U-M typically has the next wave of stars in place on its defensive front, but this is still a work in progress here. The Wolverines ad- dressed depth concerns with UCF transfer Cam Goode at defensive tackle. Sophomores Ray- shaun Benny and George Rooks could make a leap this season. Who fills out the edge rotation is anyone's guess, but junior Braiden McGregor, sophomore TJ Guy and freshman Derrick Moore will fight for time. OVERALL The Wolverines have talent here, but much of it is unproven. It is not crazy to think that position coach Mike Elston could round this into one of the steadier units on the roster. U-M will attack more from its interior than last year, where gap control was critical to free up the pass rushers. The entire defense will piece together produc- tion lost from Hutchinson and Ojabo, but the front will carry the brunt of that responsibility. The steps they take forward could determine the defense's overall ceiling.

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