Michigan Football Sleepers For 2023: Defensive Line
Michigan has stacked up two incredible seasons in a row and is riding as high as ever under Jim Harbaugh. In fact, the Wolverines are returning 81% of its production from last year's team, which included a win over Ohio State, a Big Ten title and a second straight appearance in the College Football Playoff. That production mark is good for 5th in the entire country and 1st in the Big Ten. Because of that, there aren't many question marks on the roster.
In fact, most positions are completely solidified — quarterback and running back being two of them. Wide receiver is experienced and quite deep, although Michigan's offense has limited production there a bit, and tight end looks new yet solid with rising sophomore Colston Loveland and Indiana transfer AJ Barner holding things down. Along the offensive line, Michigan is as deep as any program in the country. In fact, it doesn't really matter who Sherrone Moore decides to start; several very reliable and experienced offensive linemen are going to be watching from the sidelines this fall. Left guard, center and right guard are as solid as can be with Trevor Keegan, likely Stanford transfer Drake Nugent and Zak Zinter forming a formidable interior. There will be battles at both tackle spots but there are about six or seven players who could legitimately battle for two openings. Along the defensive line, things feel pretty set with Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell coming off the edge, while Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant hold down the interior, with perhaps the best player of the bunch, Kris Jenkins, moving all over the place. Yet, there are going to be some key rotational players up front on defense including my sleeper — Derrick Moore.
Just a true sophomore heading into this season, Moore arrived on campus last year already looking like an NFL player. He is now checking in at 6-3, 279 pounds and could be poised for a breakout campaign. He's big, solid, strong and pretty lengthy, with above-average athleticism. Last year as a rookie, he appeared in all 14 games at edge; made eight tackles with two sacks, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup to earn his first varsity letter. He was already contributing at a pretty high level last year as he played a total of 237 snaps in 2022. Perhaps most telling, is that he played a season-high 45 snaps in the conference championship game against Purdue. That means that he was playing his best ball at the end of the year, which should be a great springboard into year two.
It's going to be really interesting to see how the rotation shakes out along the defensive line. Jenkins, Graham and Harrell should all play a ton, with guys like McGregor and Grant seeing the field a lot as well. Sprinkle in Moore, and other risers like TJ Guy and Kichaun Bennett at EDGE, along with Rayshaun Benny and maybe one or two others on the inside, and you have a very deep group with a lot of potential. I see Derrick Moore with the opportunity to take the biggest jump in 2023.
