Michigan Football Edge Rusher Ranked Top Defensive Player in the Country 

Pro Football Focus released its grades for defensive players in the Power Four conferences on Sunday. Michigan football senior edge rusher Josaiah Stewart received the top mark.

Highest Graded Defensive Players in College Football⭐️ pic.twitter.com/PjDAcWC4fa

— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 26, 2024

Michigan played USC in Ann Arbor on Saturday for the first time since 1958, and it was also the first time the iconic programs faced off as Big Ten opponents. The Wolverines came out on top 27-24, and their defense was a key part of it, as was Stewart. 

Stewart finished with four tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble. The forced fumble came when USC was six yards away from scoring, but what followed was one of the most unorthodox plays one could see. See the clip below. 

You gotta see this wild play 😲#B1GFootball on CBS 📺 pic.twitter.com/pZQJotbWkp

— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 21, 2024

Although it didn’t give Michigan the ball, the fumble made USC work a lot harder for a touchdown. 

Stewart is tied for tenth in the country with four sacks. Prior to his two-sack performance Saturday, Stewart didn’t record a sack for two straight games after he started the season with a pair against Fresno State. 

It will take some time for Michigan’s offense to get back to elite form, and it might not be this year, but it might not have to be. With Stewart leading the charge up front and Will Johnson covering in the secondary, Michigan football fans have a lot of reason for optimism.

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