Podcast 15.0A, 15.0B, 15.0C. The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. Interior OL. Offensive Tackle. Edge.

DEFENSIVE INTERIOR: MOES HURST?

RATING: 5

To review: this is sort of a 3-4 and sort of a 4-3 under and sort of your bog standard 4-2-5. The interior has three "starters" in that there are three distinct roles, but because it is 2023 there will be two DTs on the field on the large majority of standard downs. Realistically the two starters are Graham and Jenkins, with Grant and Benny backing them up. Grant will get bonus snaps on short yardage when Michigan runs a 5-2 out there.

That out of the way: hell yes. Michigan returns Kris Jenkins, who could have been a day two pick in last year's NFL draft if he left. Jenkins has beefed up again, after beefing up last year. Mason Graham, who lived up to every bit of hype this site could throw at him and then some, will enjoy a freshman to sophomore transition after already checking in as one of the league's best DTs as a true freshman.

Behind these two guaranteed stars are a 340 pound man-planet who made Bruce Feldman's Freaks list last year and a highly touted redshirt sophomore who graded out like Graham in UFR a year ago. This spot is incredibly deep all of a sudden thanks to Michigan's ability to scout up-and-comers.

END: POWERED BY TENDIES

[Barron]

When KRIS JENKINS arrived on campus he just needed to eat. He was listed at 239 by 247 and showed up at Michigan at 265. He then added no weight in his first year, alarmingly, before adding 20 pounds last year. He tweeted about it and all the Michigan fans did the little hands emoji at him. This year:

Ngl i got beefed pic.twitter.com/4wUwVYNZNv

— Kris Jenkins (@KrisJenkinsJr1) May 26, 2023

Maybe that's the wrong meat to reference though:

Nah cause they are soo good https://t.co/EF6PNzIXd7

— Kris Jenkins (@KrisJenkinsJr1) August 24, 2023

Someone get this man an NIL deal STAT.

[After THE JUMP: ye gods]

Michigan has assistant coaches again, which means they get to recruit again. It’s been a minute since an update so we’ll go over the shape of the end of 2021 recruiting, then give an overview of 2022 recruiting and, if there’s anything available, transfer recruiting.

The Xavier Worthy Question

It appears Michigan has dodged a self-inflicted bullet here. Admissions decided not to let him enroll early for some reason nobody—including Worthy—seems to understand. Both Rivals and 247 have noted Worthy was the first of Michigan’s class to graduate his high school, and did so with a 3.5 GPA. Via Worthy himself he is in Ann Arbor, and is being patient with whatever’s going on over in tweedville.

2021: The Great DT Search

Michigan retained defensive line coach Shawn Nua, and that seems to have helped with Michigan’s biggest remaining need for this class, with top 3T target George Rooks committing earlier today.  Rooks appeared to be trending to BC during the Nua drift, and then PSU was in a strong position a week ago, with Rivals East Coast analyst Adam Friedman predicting Rooks to Happy Valley just this morning.

When last we spoke Michigan’s other top target was MI 4* Rayshaun Benny. Benny committed to Michigan State after their fluke victory, but did not sign with them in the early period, which everybody took for a sign that his Spartandom wasn’t cast in bronze. If you’d asked me then which Michigan’s more likely to get I’d say Benny, but that seems to have flipped in January. Benny has publicly maintained he intends to sign with MSU, Rivals Adam Gorney said it “would actually be a surprise if he flips to the Wolverines” on January 6, and Josh Helmholdt predicted Benny sticks with the Spartans a day ago. However the guy on the ground, EJ Holland, says Michigan still has a chance, and adding Bellamy helps($). Texas is also getting involved late.

Michigan has also added a pure nose target in TX 3* Ikechukwu Iwunnah. Non-fans of Don Brown’s DT recruiting will be happy to hear that Ike, who committed to Colorado a week ago, is 6’4”/290. Sam Webb more or less admitted on our roundtable last week that Brown’s demands for the position held Nua back from pursuing the space-eater types he likes, like Ike. Iwunnah is a weird late-riser since he played in Dallas and was DPOY for his district as a sophomore, but his HS coach says Ike is listening to Michigan($) despite the recent Buffs commitment. Brice Marich notes Michigan’s pitch is serious($), with Macdonald, Harbaugh, and Nua all in contact. Marich also notes the 290 is more accurate than the 275 still up on his own site. Lorenz thinks Michigan’s got a good shot at a flip.($)

The 247 guys think Nua’s hands were tied under Brown, that Michigan’s DL coach going to be more aggressive from here in after some of the better scouted, higher-ranked southern and western dudes, and that they’re all going to have size.

[After THE JUMP: transfers, casting about for cornerback names, The Bellamy Effect]