ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football had a top-10 defense in 2024 but expectations are high that the Wolverines could be even better in 2025 — despite losing standouts like defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, edge rusher Josaiah Stewart, and cornerback Will Johnson.
Part of it is because of what fans were able to see against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, as none of the aforementioned players were in the game, yet the defense dominated. Another part is the players who stepped up in said game. But also, it has to do with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and the entire defensive staff, minus one analyst-level assistant returning from last year.
WolverinesWire asked Martindale on Monday how much of a benefit it is to the players to have the entire defensive coaching staff returning and while he acknowledged the importance, he also noted that today’s player is a bit more savvy when it comes to changes that happen at any level.
“I think that it’s a factor, I do,” Martindale said. “I think that these kids are more resilient than anybody and realize the way this thing goes with people going in the portal and coming out of the portal and all the other movement you see in college football and in the NFL. Every year is a new year, and I think that they’re excited and ready to go, and I think there is the comfort that I was here last year and all the staff’s back besides Kevin (Wilkins) with the outside guys. So, I think that it will help us.”
The win over Alabama in December certainly provided a springboard of excitement. Even so, with Michigan expected to put potentially three players (Graham, Grant, and Johnson) into the first round of the impending NFL draft, there will be some questions about the ceiling of the group.
Regardless, Martindale says that while the top-end might not be as talented, the whole of the group is perhaps further along than last year’s group.
“I feel really good about our depth overall as a defense,” Martindale said. “Do we have any bona fide first-round picks? I’m not sure. We’ll wait and see how this season goes. But I know we’ve got some next-day draft picks sitting there ready to go. Right now I can say that confidently with the guys that we have, and we have more depth, like I said, in every room.”
Martindale was reticent to put a name out there when asked about who could surprise people in 2025. But when he was asked specifically about edge rusher Derrick Moore — who, along with defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny — could be the big standout this year, he noted that Moore stepping up wouldn’t exactly shock anyone.
“I don’t think that’s going to be any surprise at all. I mean, I’m expecting Derrick to jump out there. I think that you saw how he took off in just the bowl game,” Martindale said. “What did he have, two sacks? Two and a half sacks? But, not that sacks is the measuring stick, it’s all the other things that he does. So, I’m expecting big things from D-Mo.”
Spring practice begins in earnest on Tuesday with fans getting a chance to get a glimpse of their own on April 19 at noon at The Big House.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Wink Martindale excited about Michigan football defense depth in 2025
