Ann Arbor — Just before the start of preseason camp, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh referred to a “no-star” defense on his team.
That was not meant as a slight. In fact, quite the opposite.
With the departures of edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, who last season combined for 25 sacks, including Hutchinson’s program single-season record 14, the big question heading into the season was how would they possibly replace that production?
While the quarterback situation involving Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy has been the fascination heading into the season — and even during the season opener — the defense was versatile, aggressive and disruptive in a 51-7 blowout of Colorado State on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.