As Michigan football’s spring game approaches (Saturday, April 19), fans are likely eager to know what Team 146 looks like. The last time the Wolverines were on the field, they upset Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Since the end of the season, Michigan added several pieces in the portal and wrapped up its 2025 recruiting class, which ranked sixth in the nation (per On3). Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was available to the media Monday and gave updates on his side of the ball.
Wink Martindale shares early insights on Michigan defense
The Wolverines were without five defensive starters against the Crimson Tide, but they did more than hold their own. Michigan held Alabama to 13 points and forced three turnovers.
“… We had a lot of guys playing really good football at the end of last year, and we need to get right back to that and start faster this spring,” Martindale said.
Defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant sat out of the bowl game, ultimately to prepare for the NFL draft. The duo’s departure leaves a hole in the middle of the Michigan defensive line, but football exhibits the next-man-up mentality more than most sports, especially at the college level.
The Wolverines added two four-star defensive tackles from the transfer portal in Damon Payne (Alabama) and Tré Williams (Clemson). While it’s unlikely either of them will be as dominant as Graham, Payne and Williams could prove to be one of the best DT combos in the country.
Martindale said the defensive tackle room is deeper than last season.
“It’s not something that happens overnight. I think we’ve been trying to replace them through recruiting and the development of the other guys,” Martindale said of Graham and Grant. “I think we did a nice job in the portal with the two veteran tackles that we got in here. It’s going to be interesting to see how it all works out.
“Also, I feel really confident in the depth that we have in that room. I feel more confident now than I did last year at this time with the depth.”
Michigan brought in eight four-star recruits on defense, including four secondary players, three lineman and one linebacker. Martindale said it won’t matter how old a player is, and if they can play, they will.
“… I just know this, in my career, any coach that’s worth anything, he’s always going to play the best player,” Martindale said. “So if one of those new young guys are the best player, he’s going to play. How fast he plays, we’ll find out.”
Martindale didn’t give full-on opinions of the newcomers or say how the unit looked in general, but he said the Wolverines have some exciting players.
“Everything is going to be, let’s wait until after we start practicing, but there’s some guys that are going to be fun to watch,” Martindale said. “Some of the freshmen are just getting here, (cornerback) Shamari (Earls) and those guys, and some of our portal guys as well.
“… (But) you just gotta wait and see it.”
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