These days, there truly never seems to be a dull moment in college football, especially for the Michigan football team.
In the last week, the Wolverines have captured a national title, celebrated that title with a televised parade and indoor celebration, had players enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and seen nearly two dozen players make NFL Draft decisions. But beginning Tuesday, those decision deadlines have passed, giving us a chance to take a fresh look at where things stand for the Wolverines as they begin to prepare for the 2024 season.
Our first method of doing so is with a first-look depth chart. Keeping score on which players have arrived and departed, we look at who we would currently project to start, backup and mix in at each defensive position group. We also break down where things stand, including a Transfer Portal need meter.
As always, we don’t do ties with our depth charts, but may explain our reasoning for picking one player over another. For this edition, we’re sticking to returning players, and enrolled transfers and recruits only. We also aren’t projecting breakout players who could make a move in August just yet, but rather sticking to what the Wolverines would go with if they had a month to prepare for a game.
Why this order: After Michigan’s national title win in Houston, Jesse Minter told me that he thinks Grant and Graham will be the best defensive line duo in the country, and it’s hard to argue that. The two are big, tough, athletic, nasty with their play and all-around excellent linemen against both the run and pass.
With that, let’s dive in on the defense, which has returning star power at every position, but will aim to find some depth this offseason after losing 10 members of its 2023 two-deep.
