The depth Michigan had on its roster during its Championship season doesn’t seem replicable, so what does the team need to win this season?
Michigan’s defense is returning some of the best players in the country. Players like Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Will Johnson are already projected to go in the first round if they enter the draft after the 2024 Season.
Last year, PFF graded 44 guys on Michigan’s defense throughout the season. That’s a ton of players seeing time on the field. This year depth is a question, but what kind of depth do the Wolverines need to see success next fall?
Michigan’s starters in the secondary need to stay healthy this season.
To win in 2024, Michigan’s secondary needs to stay healthy. Returning talent like Will Johnson, Makari Paige, and Quinten Johnson is huge. Now, Michigan needs them to stay healthy. Rod Moore got hurt this spring, but as long as these other guys can stay healthy, Michigan doesn’t need much depth in the secondary to win.
Last season, Will Johnson dealt with an injury heading into the Ohio State game. The Wolverines trusted him to line up with Marvin Harrison Jr. and he’s PFF’s top-returning cornerback this season.
Will Johnson.
CB1 in 2025.
pic.twitter.com/a8FzsQAvEK— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) November 25, 2023
He helped create problems for Ohio State’s passing game. With more pass-heavy teams on the schedule in 2024, you want to see players as effective as Johnson stay healthy. Will Johnson left the Ohio State game early last year and Michigan still won.
That’s because Mike Sainristil and Josh Wallace were key contributors in the secondary. Now you’re looking for guys like Ja’Den McBurrows, Jyaire Hill, and Keshaun Harris to step up opposite Will Johnson.
Michigan needs one more linebacker to step up this season.
Michigan won big in the transfer portal picking up Jaishawn Barham from Maryland. He has a lot of playing time, grades out pretty well, and is a player we expect to start alongside Ernest Hausmann next season.
Michigan lost Michael Barrett and Junior Colson to the NFL, and despite the depth last season, the team really only rotated a few guys at that spot regularly. Barrett (598 snaps) and Colson (662 snaps) were on the field the most. The next man up was Hausmann (338 snaps).
Michigan has some talented guys at the top. They just need one more guy to step up and help add to this position like Hausmann did last year.
Michigan’s edge rushers will be great this season, depth shouldn’t be a problem.
Michigan lost Jaylen Harrell and Braiden McGregor to the NFL, but this season returns the likes of Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore. In 2023, those four had pretty similar snap count totals.
Pretty excited to have Josaiah Stewart back next season
pic.twitter.com/6YgAMbM2oK— 〽️att Hartwell (@MaizeCrusader) January 15, 2024
Josaiah Stewart is another player on this defense who PFF has as a top-returning player at his position. Michigan won’t need to see four guys in the rotation to pick up wins. You’d expect to see TJ Guy or Enow Etta get more snaps this year, but Derrick Moore and Stewart should be able to help fill what Michigan lost after 2023.
Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant will help fix any weaknesses Michigan might have.
Any issues of depth on the defense will be helped by the fact Michigan has Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant returning this season. They’re both top-10 returners and saw significant playing time last season.
Some of my favorite Mason Graham highlights from this past season.
DT1 in what’s a loaded position in CFB next year.
Nearly complete player: Size, agility, power, motor.
Has a chance to reach Carter/Quinnen levels as a prospect imo. @UMichFootball pic.twitter.com/PRmsCHN4pe
— Max Chadwick (@MaxChadwickCFB) March 8, 2024
Michigan might not need a talented and deep secondary if quarterbacks have to try and get away from the likes of Grant and Graham.
folks Kenneth Grant (6-3, 349) is a problem … fascinated to see the next step for the Michigan DT pic.twitter.com/jxUK6SwODH
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) March 8, 2024
Rayshaun Benny went down with an injury early in the Rose Bowl last season, but he was on the field a lot last season and should be a reliable guy to come in and help give Graham and Grant a break. Cam Goode is another guy on the defensive line that should help fill out this position in the fall.
Michigan doesn’t need to go undefeated for a playoff spot this season.
Yes, going 15-0 was awesome, but with the expanded college football playoff things are different in 2024. Sure, Michigan has a tougher schedule there’s no question about it. They play Texas in week two and things don’t let up from there.
The schedule might be tougher, but in a 12-team playoff, Michigan still has a shot of making a run with one, two, maybe even three losses. Last year, it was difficult to see a situation where Michigan lost a game and could still make it to the playoff and win a National Championship.
As long as the backups are showing improvement week after week and the starters are playing as well as expected, this defense has the depth it needs to put Michigan in a position to win every Saturday come the fall.