The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1536962
Michigan lost its share of talent to the NFL, starting with outstanding defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson. Running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards are gone, too, but there are plenty of potential replacements. Here are the projected five best players heading into the season (with a nod to senior Dominic Zvada, last year's All-American. Kickers are people, too). Derrick Moore heads into his senior year on the heels of a season in which he tallied 23 tackles, 6 stops for loss, 4 sacks and a fumble recovery. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL 1. Senior edge Derrick Moore We've been waiting a few years for the edge rusher to really reach his potential, and he showed in last season's ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama how dominant he can be. He registered 2 sacks and was disruptive up front most of the game, and now he's being touted as a sleeper first-round NFL Draft pick if he can build upon it. The honorable mention All-Big Ten selection recorded 6 sacks a year ago among his 23 stops He's capable of much more, and he'll get his shot. 2. Graduate defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny First-round NFL Draft picks Graham and Grant were the headliners on last year's D-line, but Benny has made some big plays in his career, too. He started two of 11 games played a year ago and notched 29 tackles with 3.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 4 quarterback hurries. He will have a chance to improve those numbers as a full-time starter this fall. He's waited his turn and seems primed for his best season after a great spring. 3. Senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann The former Nebraska transfer won Michigan's Roger Zatkoff Award as the best linebacker a year ago after leading the team with 89 tackles, in- cluding 7 for loss with 2 sacks. He also earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and improved throughout the season a year ago. Hausmann has become one of the conference's best and is primed for a huge year in the middle of the defense. 4. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall Michigan fans got their first glimpse of what Marshall could do in the ReliaQuest Bowl, when he started and rushed for 100 tough yards against a very good Alabama defense. Many of those yards came after contact, too. He'll share carries with Crimson Tide transfer Justice Haynes, but we expect him to have a breakout season, having drawn comparisons to former great Blake Corum. 5. Graduate safety Rod Moore Moore missed the entire season last year with a knee in- jury, but there's hope he'll be back to full health by fall camp after two surgeries, head coach Sherrone Moore reported in April. The veteran is already one of the top big-play safeties in school history, having recorded game changers in some of the Wolverines' most important contests. The biggest — a game- clinching interception to seal a 30-24 win over Ohio State in 2023. He'd be No. 1 on this list if we knew for sure he'd be 100 percent. Top Five Players