Clemson transfer Tré Williams brings a wealth of experience and leadership along the defensive line to help Michigan replace all-world DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant:
The Michigan Wolverines will have a bit of a new-look defensive line this fall, but it should still be among the best in the Big Ten. Senior Derrick Moore and fifth-year senior TJ Guy both return to hold down the two edge spots, while fifth-year senior Rayshaun Benny is the unquestioned leader on the interior.
But with Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant being picked in the first round of this spring’s NFL Draft , Michigan will need more players to provide meaningful snaps on the interior. Fans should look no further than one of the most important additions this offseason via the transfer portal — defensive tackle Tré Williams.
The story so far
Williams was a Top-100 overall prospect in the 2020 class out of St. John’s High School in Washington, D.C. A prolific prep star, he chose Clemson over other offers from Ohio State, Alabama, LSU, Georgia and other blue blood programs.
After only playing in two games and redshirting in 2020, Williams burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2021. He played in 11 games that season and recorded 10 tackles, four tackles for loss and one sack. Williams took a step back as far as stats are concerned in 2022, and then only played in five games in 2023 due to injury.
However, Williams bounced back in 2024 with 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections in 14 games. He earned a 66.3 overall defensive grade by Pro Football Focus, as well as a 69.4 tackling grade and a 68.9 pass rush grade. He only missed one tackle and was flagged for one penalty all season, showing he doesn’t make a ton of mental mistakes on the field.
After the season, Williams announced he was entering the portal to find a new home for his final season of eligibility. He didn’t wait long — just three days , in fact — to commit to Lou Esposito and the Wolverines.
Outlook for 2025 season
Williams is penciled in to start alongside Benny at defensive tackle this season. His blend of experience and leadership will help him get on the field early and often, and he already has the respect and attention of his teammates.
“A lot, especially Tré,” sophomore edge rusher Dominic Nichols said on what he’s seen out of the new defensive linemen. “Tre’s an older guy, so he knows what he’s doing. He’s been around the block.”
“Just the way he plays — he just gets vertical,” offensive lineman Nathan Efobi said of what stands out about Williams. “He goes from Point A to Point — no distractions, no hesitation, no crazy moves. He just goes vertical to get to the quarterback.”
Losing Graham and Grant to the NFL hurts. However, getting a guy like Williams to transfer in for a year while Esposito and company continue to develop the guys further down the depth chart is a major win. Williams likely won’t compile a ton of stats, but he’s going to do the dirty work to stop the run and help the edge rushers like Guy and Moore pick up all the sacks and tackles for loss on the box score.