The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531518
FEBRUARY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 29 OTHER RETURNERS Graduate Kechaun Bennett He's been in 24 games and racked up 6 tackles and a blocked punt in his career. Graduate Rayshaun Benny A key reserve in the last two seasons, the Detroit native has totaled 55 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 24 outings since 2023. Graduate TJ Guy Thrust into a bigger role due to injuries to Moore and senior Josaiah Stewart, Guy started two games in 2024. While he was primarily a backup, he recorded 32 stops, 7 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Graduate Ike Iwunnah The 6-foot-3, 313-pounder hadn't ap- peared in a game until the 2024 cam- paign. He became part of the rotation this past season, totaling 165 defensive snaps, 7 tackles and 1 stop for loss. Graduate Tyler McLaurin He's competed in 16 career contests, including 11 this past year, mostly on special teams. Senior Alessandro Lorenzetti He switched from offensive line to de- fensive tackle ahead of the 2023 season but has yet to appear in a game. Junior Cameron Brandt In the two-deep all season long, Brandt tallied 133 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble. Junior Enow Etta He earned a role as a rotational player up front, before starting the bowl game against Alabama. He totaled 3 tackles and a pass breakup in nine appearances. Junior Aymeric Koumba He's seen action in two contests over the last two seasons. Junior Trey Pierce The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder played in all 13 games and tallied 7 tackles in 2024. He earned his first start against Alabama. Sophomore Devon Baxter He redshirted as a freshman and has yet to make his college debut. Sophomore Manuel Beigel The Frankfurt, Germany, native made one appearance, maintaining his redshirt. Sophomore Lugard Edokpayi He didn't make any appearances as a freshman. Sophomore Ted Hammond He saw no game action as a freshman. Sophomore Dominic Nichols The 6-foot-5, 261-pound Frederick, Md., native saw time in four contests, maintaining his redshirt, and made 1 tackle. He rotated in and tied his career high with 7 defensive snaps in the finale against Alabama, forcing 1 fumble. Sophomore Deyvid Palepale He didn't get in any contests in 2024. NEWCOMERS Graduate Damon Payne Jr. The Alabama transfer was a top-50 recruit out of Belleville (Mich.) High in the 2021 class and has returned closer to home for his final season. The 6-foot-4, 313-pounder recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery in eight games in 2024. Graduate Tré Williams He registered 35 tackles, 10 stops for loss, 4 sacks and 2 pass breakups in 44 games (four starts) over five seasons at Clemson. The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder collected 14 tackles, including 3 for loss and 2 sacks in 14 outings in 2024. Freshman Julius Holly A four-star recruit, he was ranked as the No. 350 overall player and 35th-best edge in the nation in 2025. Freshman Bobby Kanka He is regarded as a three-star recruit and the nation's No. 499 overall prospect. Freshman Nate Marshall U-M flipped Marshall from Auburn just before signing day, and it was a big land. He ranks as the No. 59 overall player and No. 7 defensive lineman in America. Freshman Travis Moten He's a three-star and the No. 964 over- all prospect and No. 87 edge nationally. Freshman Benny Patterson The former Cincinnati pledge is a four-star and the No. 298 overall pros- pect and No. 25 defensive lineman in the 2025 class. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN ANALYSIS Edge Josaiah Stewart is out of eligibility, and defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant declared for the NFL Draft following their junior seasons. Those are some big losses, with that trio combining for 26.5 tackles for loss, 15 sacks and 98 pressures a season ago. But Michigan is known for reloading along the defensive line, and there's still a decent amount of experience, led by Moore, Benny and Guy. The Wolverines needed reinforcements on the interior of the line, bringing in Williams and Payne from Clemson and Alabama, respec- tively. Both will be in line to compete for start- ing jobs and at the least will rotate in alongside Benny. — Clayton Sayfie PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETICS BY CLAYTON SAYFIE RETURNING STARTERS Senior Derrick Moore The 6-foot-3, 256-pounder is set to be the lone full-time starter on the defen- sive line to come back. The two-time All-Big Ten honorable mention selec- tion recorded 23 tackles, 6 stops for loss, 4 sacks and 2 pass breakups in 2024. He's appeared in 40 career games with 11 starts.