The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 95 DEFENSIVE LINE Mone, meanwhile, was "full speed" this spring. He was last seen literally picking a center up off the ground in the spring game and tossing him aside. "He didn't show any signs of a guy who had been injured other than not playing for a year, you'll always have a little bit of rust," Mattison said. "But he's a competitor, a very talented young man, so he fit right away. "He's very explosive, very strong and he can run. He's got a lot of the attributes you look for in a defensive lineman." In the redshirt junior Hurst (6-2, 282), the Wolverines have a change-of-pace nose tackle — smaller but quick — also capable of playing the three-technique tackle spot inside. He's probably the most flexible of the bunch, Mattison noted. "He came here as a nose, but also has the strength and quickness to be a three technique, and he played a lot of three technique this spring," he said. "His forte is his explosiveness off the football, his speed; where Ryan and Bryan, they're strong and really physical at the point of attack. It's kind of a nice combination in there. "You're only as good as you are down the middle up front. To have guys like that inside is a very positive thing." There's also depth inside with redshirt sophomore Brady Pallante (6-1, 280), who played in seven games last year as a reserve after switching back from an experiment at fullback. Nor does it hurt to have bookends like Wormley (6-5, 303) and Charlton (6-6, 285) to do damage on the outside. The two combined for 12 sacks and 23 tackles for loss a year ago and were dominant at times during the spring. Wormley has added good lower-body weight and seems primed to take the next step in his development at strongside end. "Chris was so talented, even when he first came in, and we knew that when we recruited him," Mattison said. "I remember watching him throw the shot put and discus at a regional or sectional and think- ing, 'Man, this guy is going to be something special.' Then he had the misfortune of getting hurt right away his freshman year. Some guys QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Greg Mattison (sixth straight season at U-M, second solely as DL coach). Returning Starters: DE Chris Wormley (16), DE Taco Charlton (4), DT Ryan Glasgow (20), DT Matt Godin (4) and DT Maurice Hurst (4). Departing Starters: DT Willie Henry (22) and DE Mario Ojeumudia (7). Projected New Starters: NT Bryan Mone. Top Reserves: DE Rashan Gary, DE Lawrence Marshall and DE Chase Winovich. Wait Until 2017: DE Reuben Jones, DE Shelton Johnson, DE Carlo Kemp and DT Brady Pallante. Newcomers: Gary, Kemp, DT Michael Dwumfour and DE Ron Johnson. Moved In: None. Moved Out: None. Rookie Impact: Gary. Most Improved Player: Charlton. Best Pro Prospect: Wormley. FYI: Athlon tabbed the Wolverines with the nation's second-best unit, writing: "With the addition of No. 1 recruit Rashan Gary and the return of five key members of last year's rotation, Michigan could challenge Alabama for the nod as the nation's best defensive line." … The magazine tabbed Wormley a third-team All-American this preseason while projecting Charlton as a second-team All-Big Ten pick … Glasgow was a 2015 Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist (most outstanding player who began his career as a walk-on) … Wormley leads all U-M returners with 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his career … The Baltimore Ravens, coached by Jim Harbaugh's brother John, took Henry in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft … The Ravens also signed Ojemudia, who tore his Achilles tendon in the Maryland game last year, as an undrafted free agent … Gary participated in the 2016 Under Armour All-American Game and was named Team Highlight MVP after posting six tackles, three sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss … He ended his career at the same high school that produced U-M linebacker Jabrill Peppers and offensive lineman Juwann Bushell-Beatty, and was teammates with fellow incoming freshman Dwumfour as a sophomore at Scotch Pains-Fanwood High … Mattison has 18 years of experience as a defensive coordinator, including six seasons of doing so at Michigan (1995-96, 2011-14). Preseason Analysis: Defensive Line Starter ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ½ Defensive line coach Greg Mattison has so many talented bodies up front he looks at them all as starters since they've each played so much and rotate consistently. The Wolverines boast two guys at nose tackle in Bryan Mone and Ryan Glasgow who would start for most Big Ten teams, the best pair of ends in the conference and plenty of talent behind them. Depth ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ½ Mattison could start Michigan's second group and the defense would still be in pretty good shape. There's a wealth of young talent at the weakside end position behind Taco Charlton, though most of it is unproven, and freshman Rashan Gary might well earn a starting spot on the edge. X-Factor Who's the pass rusher? Gary dominated from the edge in high school, but it's a differ - ent animal at the collegiate level. The Wolverines finished fifth in the Big Ten in sacks last year but didn't have a player in the top 10. That could change this year with teams not being able to focus on one guy. Overall ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ½ There's veteran talent, young talent, depth … everything you're looking for on a defensive line. Mattison would be able to go the hockey route and make wholesale line changes if he wanted to, and there should be enough players to withstand injuries should they occur. Note: Rankings are made on a scale of 1-5 stars. Fifth-year senior Chris Wormley's 14.5 tackles for loss in 2015 paced the team and ranked ninth in the Big Ten. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN