82 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
BY CHRIS BALAS
F
or years, Michigan was the college
football program that was so close to
having all the pieces to win it all but
lacked in just one or two areas … and
one of them was usually interior defensive
line. There are many legitimate reasons for
the struggles, not the least of which was
many of them came at a premium — and
yes, that was even before the NIL era made
it somewhat legal.
While U-M had many of the elite players
at other positions — receiver, quarterback,
offensive line, defensive back — many ana-
lysts nationwide would point out the differ-
ence between the Wolverines and the other
"next tier" programs was athleticism on
defense — specifically, the defensive line.
Kindred SpiritS
Defensive Tackles Mason Graham And Kenneth Grant
Are Cut From The Same Elite Cloth
