INDIANAPOLIS — The previous offseason (and the one before that), Donovan Jeter was the Michigan football interior defensive lineman who drew the most praise, with coaches and players forecasting a breakout season.
This offseason?
There's a different interior defensive lineman who is drawing attention: redshirt sophomore Mazi Smith.
"A guy like Mazi Smith has really asserted himself through spring ball and the summer cycle," said coach Jim Harbaugh on Thursday at Big Ten media days. "Mazi looks good."
MORE ON D-LINE:Why Aidan Hutchinson is primed for a star season in new defense
Notably, those comments were not in response to a specific question about Smith.