Michigan football didn’t go 12-0 in the regular season last year just because of a persistent run attack that carved up the majority of the defenses it faced.
The Wolverines had — and should have again — a ferocious defense that has the ability to change the look to confuse the opposing offense. The Jesse Minter-led defense rotates playmakers in and out to keep the defense fresh and to wear the opposition down.
ESPN writers took a vote to determine the top 10 defenses in all of football heading into 2023. The Michigan defense came in at No. 2 in the voting right behind Georgia.
The Wolverines have reestablished their excellence on defense, overcoming key player and coaching losses after the 2021 season to once again finish in the top 10 nationally in points allowed (16.1) and yards per play allowed (4.7). They now have the continuity to build further as they aim for three straight Big Ten titles, another CFP appearance and a deeper postseason run. Second-year coordinator Jesse Minter, a Broyles Award finalist, will oversee a unit featuring an exciting mix of veterans, emerging young players and transfers, including linebacker Ernest Hausmann (Nebraska) and edge Josaiah Stewart (Coastal Carolina).
Michigan will miss Mazi Smith and Mike Morris up front but returns veterans Kris Jenkins, Mason Graham and Jaylen Harrell, plus sophomore Derrick Moore, an ESPN top-20 national recruit in 2022. If Harrell, Moore and others can spark the pass rush, the unit should be very solid across the board. Linebacker projects as a strength this season, as Michigan returns Junior Colson and Michael Barrett, who combined for 173 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2022. Hausmann, who had 54 tackles as a freshman at Nebraska, is another nice addition.
Veteran defensive backs Rod Moore, Mike Sainristil, Makari Paige and R.J. Moten are back, and Michigan has high hopes for cornerback Will Johnson, another ESPN top-25 recruit in 2022, as well as spring standout Amorion Walker. Michigan’s CFP semifinal loss to TCU exposed some vulnerabilities, so there’s an obvious next step for the unit. The continuity with Minter and much of the personnel puts Michigan on track to be possibly an even better defense in 2023.
Losing Mazi Smith, Mike Morris and DJ Turner — along with R.J. Moten to Florida — does sting, but Michigan bringing in defenders via the transfer portal and bringing back experienced playmakers from last season should make the Wolverines tough once again. Michigan had the No. 6 total defense in the country last year, allowing 292 yards per game, and the Wolverines allowed 16.1 points per game which made them the seventh-ranked scoring defense in the country.
Here are the top 10 defenses in college football according to ESPN:
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