Michigan football linebacker corps ranked top 5 nationally by top analyst

Last season, under first-year defensive play-caller Jesse Minter, the Wolverines finished with one of the best defenses in the nation. U-M held Michigan State to 7 points, Penn State to 17 points, and Ohio State to 23 points. With a lot on the line this year, it appears that the Maize and Blue will once again have one of the best defenses in the nation. According to analyst Phil Steele, the Michigan football linebacker corps ranks among the nation’s top 5 heading into the new season.

Phil Steele ranks the Michigan football linebacker corps among top 5 nationally

The Michigan football linebacker corps has undergone some notable changes over the past few years, but right now, it is looking better than ever. According to Phil Steele, one of the most respected and well-known voices in the entire sport, the Wolverines’ linebackers are among the top 5 nationally, coming in at No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten, according to Steele’s preseason rankings.

Junior Colson will lead the way

This year’s Michigan football linebacker corps will be headlined by Junior Colson, who has stood out during his two years in Ann Arbor thus far. Despite being a freshman in 2021, he saw a great deal of in-game action and earned a starting role in 2022, proving to be one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. His veteran presence will be crucial for the Maize and Blue this fall and could lead to another conference crown for Michigan football.

A new face will have a profound impact on the defense

Alongside Colson will be a new addition from the transfer portal for the Wolverines: former Nebraska linebacker Ernest Hausmann, who is heading into his first year with the Michigan football program. Hausmann was one of the top transfers in the 2023 class, and last fall, he proved to be a valuable rising star despite being a true freshman for the Cornhuskers. During Michigan’s 34-3 win over Nebraska in Ann Arbor last November, Hausmann recorded an impressive 10 tackles and a sack, catching the eye of Jim Harbaugh and the coaching staff.

The linebackers are the quarterbacks on the defensive side of the football, and from the looks of things, this year’s defense is in great hands as they chase a Big Ten title and more.

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