The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534644
MAY 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 MICHIGAN '10 DEEP' ON DEFENSIVE LINE A "deep" defense is what's being said to describe second-year coordinator Wink Martindale's crew, and that starts up front with the line. The Wolverines are six deep on the interior and have four players who've emerged at edge. "I could be here for a while talking about that," head coach Sherrone Moore responded about the D-line. "I mean, you just talk about the whole defensive line. I feel like there are 10 guys that can play. "The guy that stood out [in the spring game] was [sophomore edge] Dom[inic] Nichols. Every day it's trying to figure out ways to block him and [graduate] TJ [Guy] and [senior] Derrick [Moore] and [junior] Cam[eron] Brandt. Up front, it's [graduate] Tré [Williams], it's [gradu- ate] Rayshaun Benny, it's [graduate] Ike [Iwunnah], it's [junior] Trey Pierce, it's [junior] Enow Etta." The Wolverines had one of the best defensive lines in America in 2024 but lost three of their starters. Through a strength in numbers, U-M could be strong up front again. "It's a group of guys that have been re- ally fun to watch, and watch them push each other," Moore said. — Clayton Sayfie U-M 'CONFIDENT' OFFENSE WILL BE 'EXPLOSIVE' Split into two teams in the April 19 spring game — Maize and Blue — the Michigan offense put up 17 points, 7 of which came by way of a trick play as time expired. Blue beat Maize, 17-0, in the intra- squad scrimmage, and while sophomore running back Jordan Marshall wishes his team didn't get shut out, he's optimistic about the offense as a whole. "Everybody on defense is really good," Marshall said, exhaling a laugh. "I don't know, we wanted to run the ball, and I think we ran the ball well. We just didn't have any explosives. "But we're going against, I think, who- ever is out there is the best defense in the country. That's a privilege that I get to go against every single day." In 15 spring practices, the Michigan offense didn't have many "wins" over the defense, even though the group had its moments. The Wolverines had a great defense in 2024 — particularly at the end of the season — but a poor offense. New coordinator Chip Lindsey is tasked with leading a turnaround, and there was a lot of ground to make up when he took over. "Maybe one. Maybe two," Marshall said of the amount of "wins." "And that says something. The saying 'defense wins championships' is real. When we won in '23, that defense was like that. "And we move the ball on them — don't get me wrong — and it's back and forth. But it's great going against this defense. When I'm out there, I'm like, I'm not going to see a better linebacker corps, I'm not going to see a better front line of guys, the DBs — B[randyn]-Hill, 7, [junior safety TJ] Metcalf, coming down- hill. These guys fly around." Freshman Bryce Underwood — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, a five-star-plus prospect — has been im- pressive in his first spring in Ann Arbor, leading to optimism. "I think he's a generational athlete," Marshall said. "He's a freak. He can do anything he puts his mind to, and I think you want to have that swagger at quar- terback. I appreciate having somebody like that." Marshall said the offensive line will "jell together," expressed confidence in his position group being able to run the ball and lauded some of the pass-game weapons that Underwood and Co. will be able to utilize. "This offense is going to be explosive," Marshall said. "You saw us take some shots [in the spring game]. Obviously, the play book is watered down and ev- erything, but we're going to take some shots — and [graduate wide receiver] Do- naven [McCulley], No. 13, he's a beast. He's a beast. He's like that." — Clayton Sayfie MIKEY KEENE'S HEALTH IS IMPROVING Michigan had just two healthy quar- terbacks participating in spring prac- tices: sophomore Jadyn Davis and fresh- man Bryce Underwood. Graduates Mikey Keene, a Fresno State transfer, and Davis Warren, last season's starter, were re- covering from injuries. While Warren is expected to be out for more months, Keene's health is improving rapidly. "Right before the spring that kinda came upon us, so we handled it," head coach Sherrone Moore said of Keene's undisclosed injury after the spring game. "He's doing well now, he's throwing and in a good place. Just didn't feel like push- ing it to end the spring that way. So, he's in a great place. "I did a study of guys who have played the most college snaps in football, and he's played like 2,028 snaps of college football, so he's OK to miss a spring. He's all right." Moore was asked if Michigan will look for a quarterback in the portal. "We'll look at different options and what we need to do. We've got [signee] Chase Herbstreit coming in this summer, as well, so we'll have Mikey, evaluate and see where Davis is, and we'll see what that situation looks like." The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Keene has appeared in 39 games with 34 starts over four seasons in college football. — Clayton Sayfie Graduate edge rusher TJ Guy is a key member of what is being touted as yet another tal- ented Michigan defensive line group headed into the 2025 season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL