Michigan football D-line disrespected by Phil Steele

Preseason rankings are mostly for debate and fun, but they are still annoying when they are wrong and it’s hard to reconcile Michigan football ranking fourth among defensive lines in college football.

Phil Steele is one of the top experts in the sport. He picked Michigan football to finish fourth in his preseason Big Ten rankings with Ohio State, Oregon, and Penn State ahead of the Wolverines.

Steele also has Ohio State’s defensive line ranked ahead of Michigan football. I can stomach that even though I disagree. But Penn State and Utah ranking ahead of Michigan doesn’t make that much sense.

Michigan fooball D-line depth is the question mark

The Wolverines did lose Kris Jenkins to the NFL. They also lost some of their pass rushers but Derrick Moore has first-round pick potential. I’ve been saying that all offseason and people are discounting the kind of season he’s going to have in 2024.

Kenneth Grant is another player who doesn’t get talked about enough. ESPN had three Michigan football players going in a recent first-round mock draft — Mason Graham, Will Johnson, and Colston Loveland — but Grant could easily be in that conversation too. Josaiah Stewart also feels like he has at least day-two potential.

Rayshaun Benny should provide some quality depth this season along with Enow Etta, Cameron Brandt, and Trey Pierce. There might not be as much depth as last season, but the first four is as good as any in college football.

Steele knows what he’s talking about but I think he’s underrated Michigan football a little bit.

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