Michigan football defense continues to turns heads, earns high praise from notable outlet

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, the Michigan football defense has been one of the best units in the nation. A major factor in Jim Harbaugh’s recent success, which includes two straight Big Ten title game victories and College Football Playoff appearances, has been his defensive units. Last fall, the Maize and Blue defense thrived under first-year play caller Jesse Minter. Now, the Wolverines’ defensive front seven has been ranked No. 2 in the nation heading into 2023, according to CBS Sports.

Michigan football defense praised by CBS Sports

Shutting down offenses like Penn State, Ohio State, and more is not an easy task — still, the Maize and Blue have seemingly done it with ease. In 2021 and 2022, the Nittany Lions could not muster up more than 17 points, and against the Buckeyes, who are known for their offensive prowess, 27 remains the number to beat for Ryan Day.

This fall, Michigan football is in pursuit of even bigger and better achievements, looking to capture the program’s first national title since the 1997 season. If the Maize and Blue expect to accomplish this, the Michigan football defense must once again establish itself among the nation’s best. According to CBS Sports, the Wolverines are in great shape to make this happen, being ranked as one of the top three front seven units in all of college football.

The only team ahead of Michigan football in these new CBS Sports rankings is the Georgia Bulldogs, who have, to put it lightly, bullied their way to two straight national titles. Even in 2021, when the Wolverines beat Ohio State by 15 points and won the Big Ten title by 39, Georgia manhandled Michigan before doing the same to Alabama in the CFP title game.

The Maize and Blue have one of the best front seven units in the country, heading into the 2023 season

Some of the top Wolverine stars named by CBS as potential impact players on the Michigan football defense, specifically in the front seven, are linebackers Junior Colson and Mike Barrett. Additionally, new transfer portal additions like Ernest Hausmann and Josaiah Stewart are also mentioned, as they are both expected to make major contributions to the Michigan football defense throughout the season.

In just a few short months, Michigan football and its impressive defensive front seven will have a chance to prove the nation right, perhaps even pushing for a national title game appearance for the first time in the program’s long and storied history.

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