The Michigan Wolverines emerged as a force in the Big 10 as the 2021 season wore on. They overcame Penn State, Ohio State, and Iowa on their way to winning the Big 10 Championship and earning a ticket to the College Football Playoffs.
Michigan was carried by its defense, who in turn took their lead from EDGE Aidan Hutchinson.
Hutchinson rebounded from a lost 2020 season with a fantastic break-out season in 2021. He notched an impressive 16.5 tackles for a loss, 14.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 passes defensed. That was enough to propel Hutchinson to the top (or almost top) of every draft board out there.