DETROIT -- With Michigan football having lost several key defensive players to the NFL draft -- first-rounders Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, second-rounder Will Johnson, and third-rounder Josaiah Stewart -- many across college football don't have high expectations for the Wolverine defense. Yet, the unit that was No. 10 in the country a year ago in total defense is ready to reload, and it's shown that it's capable of dominating, even without those aforementioned stars.
Against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, nine of this year's expected 11 starters defensively were on the field at the outset of the game, while many others factored in.