The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 27 Michigan's defensive depth chart will likely change before the opener, but here's a projection of where things stand more than two weeks into fall camp: EDGE No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 90 Mike Morris 6-6 292 Sr./3 17 Braiden McGregor 6-6 261 Jr./3 Note: A leader on the defense, Morris will move up and down the defensive line — from nose to a wide-nine — depending on situa - tion, which was his goal when he gained 14 pounds this offseason. After having a quiet start to his career, McGregor has really come on and emerged into the two-deep. EDGE No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 91 Taylor Upshaw 6-4 255 Gr./2 32 Jaylen Harrell 6-4 246 Jr./3 Note: Upshaw has also taken a bigger leadership role, and the team's leading returning sack man (2.5) will be asked to shoulder more of the load as a pass rusher this year. Harrell is solid against the run but unproven as a rusher. Graduate student Julius Welschof, who moved back to edge from tackle, sophomore TJ Guy and freshman Derrick Moore all also have the opportunity to earn rotational playing time. NOSE TACKLE No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 58 Mazi Smith 6-3 337 Sr./3 55 Mason Graham 6-3 317 Fr./4 Note: Smith is an unquestioned leader on defense, and Bruce Feld - man's No. 1 freak in college football has been a "monster" during prac- tice. He's upped his pass rush skills, too, and will look to offset some of the production U-M lost there from last season. Graham has been uber impressive since enrolling in January, and he's fighting with graduate Cam Goode, a UCF transfer and summer enrollee freshman Kenneth Grant for snaps. Based on how good all three behind Smith have been in camp, it wouldn't surprise to see each of them play quite a bit. DEFENSIVE TACKLE No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 94 Kris Jenkins 6-3 285 Jr./3 26 Rayshaun Benny 6-4 292 So./4 Note: Jenkins worked hard this offseason to get to the weight he's currently at, and he's one of the most improved players on the team after contributing some last season. Benny and classmate George Rooks are two options behind him, and they could play alongside Jenkins when U-M goes with three defensive tackles and takes the nickel back off the field. MIKE LINEBACKER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 41 Nikhai Hill-Green 6-2 232 Jr./3 20 Kalel Mullings 6-2 232 Jr./3 Note: Hill-Green has elevated his game, and Mullings is splitting time between linebacker and running back, though it's unclear if that will continue throughout the entire season. Graduate student Michael Barrett plays more at the Will spot, but he can step in here, too, and so can senior Joey Velazquez, a standout on special teams. WILL LINEBACKER No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 25 Junior Colson 6-2 235 So./3 23 Michael Barrett 6-0 233 Gr./2 Note: Colson has become one of U-M's most valuable defensive players and has All-America potential. He's had a great camp and is expanding his game, being projected to blitz more this season. Barrett can be used situationally on pass downs and even at nickel in a heftier package. Harbaugh called him a "starter" when U-M goes with a dime look (six defensive backs). Sophomore Jaydon Hood continues to ascend, too. NICKEL BACK No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 0 Mike Sainristil 5-10 182 Sr./2 19 Rod Moore 6-0 185 So./3 Note: Sainristil made the switch to defensive back just before spring ball, and it's amazing how quickly he's gotten up to speed there. Harbaugh revealed Aug. 8 that 80 percent of his practice reps have come on defense, with the two-way player holding down the starting nickel spot. Moore will likely start at safety but has the ability to shift down to nickel — and frankly, so do quite a few guys. Co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Steve Clinkscale also mentioned cornerbacks DJ Turner, Will Johnson, Kody Jones and others who are practicing in the slot. CORNERBACK No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 5 DJ Turner 6-0 180 Sr./3 31 Jalen Perry 6-0 190 Gr./3 Note: Turner has had an impressive fall camp and is U-M's No. 1 cornerback. He'll also play nickel in certain situations. Perry has come on strong, notching an interception in a recent scrimmage. Sophomore Ja'Den McBurrows was in the two-deep last season but suffered a leg injury late in the year. He didn't return for fall camp but he'll possibly be back at some point this season, and Clinkscale said he'll factor into the rotation once he's 100 percent. CORNERBACK No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 22 Gemon Green 6-2 186 Gr./2 2 Will Johnson 6-2 194 Fr./4 Note: Green was Michigan's best cornerback during spring ball, even better than Turner, and has had an outstanding fall camp. He registered 3 interceptions in a several-day span at one point and continues to line up with first unit. Johnson is too good to keep off the field, though, and is battling for the starting job. Either way, he'll play, including at nickel. STRONG SAFETY No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 6 R.J. Moten 6-0 223 Jr./3 7 Makari Paige 6-4 200 Jr./3 Note: Moten has elevated his game this year, and so has Paige. He's run with the "ones" (first team) at times this offseason and is really in a top three at safety with Moten and Moore that will include plenty of rotation. FREE SAFETY No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. Remaining 19 Rod Moore 6-0 185 So./3 3 Keon Sabb 6-1 208 Fr./4 Note: Despite missing the spring while recovering from a shoulder injury, Moore has picked right up where he left off, a rising star on the defense. Sabb gets better by the day and week, per Clinkscale, and he's taking reps at both safety spots. — Clayton Sayfie The Wolverine's 2022 Projected Depth Chart — Defense