5. The pass rush will, once again be particularly daunting
Michigan’s pass rush never was quite the same after Mo Hurst graduated, but we feel like it’s ready to take a big step forward.
While there will be no Josh Uche mixing things up, both Kwity Paye and Aidan Hutchinson already seemed up to the challenge as it were, combining for 11 sacks in 2019. For comparison, Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary combined for 8.5 in 2018 and 14 in 2017. It feels like this group is ready to take a big step forward, especially with some of the younger players who should also be ready to step into rotation. We heard all year about Hinton and Mazi Smith in the interior, and this should be their year. Same with Donovan Jeter, and it’s put up time for him, as he hasn’t quite been the same since his injury sustained his true freshman season. Carlo Kemp was stalwart a year ago, and should be able to continue to be so.
Then, there’s the younger players, such as David Ojabo, who earned a lot of praise from the staff and his teammates alike in his true freshman season.
However, the onus rests on Hutchinson and Paye, who we anticipate will take a similar step forward as Chris Wormley and Taco Charlton did from 2015 to 2016. If Michigan can get pressure up the middle, it’ll open things up for its two ends, and they have the skill and talent to be a formidable duo in Big Ten play and beyond.