This Michigan football ‘freak’ is setting the tone on defense

This weekend, the Wolverines will begin Big Ten conference play in an undefeated Big Ten East matchup against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, who just blew out Virginia Tech. When it comes to the Michigan football defense, which currently ranks No. 1 in scoring defense and more, the Maize and Blue have a new “freak” on the rise — Jaylen Harrell, an edge rusher, is setting the tone right now.

Michigan football defense has a “freak” leading the way

In recent weeks Michigan football “freak” Jaylen Harrell has been garnering a ton of high praise from major names within Schembechler Hall. Jim Harbaugh (head coach) and Kris Jenkins (team captain) are just two examples of this.

In fact, following the Wolverines’ win over Bowling Green last weekend, Kris Jenkins was the one who first identified Jaylen Harrell as a freak.

“Well, Jaylen (Harrell) has been an absolute freak,” Kris Jenkins said. “We all know this. The dude’s a heck of an athlete, a heck of a player.”

Additionally, according to Jim Harbaugh, Harrell has been setting the tone for Jesse Minter’s defense thus far. Today, we got more on Harrell and his tone-setting abilities from the man himself.

Jaylen Harrell is setting the tone on defense

Does Jaylen Harrell think he is setting the tone for the Michigan football defense? A little bit, but not as much as others clearly do.

“A little bit, probably got a lot more work to do, but I’ve had an okay start,” Jaylen Harrell explained on Tuesday.

A few turnovers came off of plays that Harrell created along the defensive front. That is a huge presence for Michigan football, especially heading into Big Ten conference games, which will begin this weekend against Rutgers.

“It feels good, just bringing the energy,” Harrell explained. “Especially the second one (turnover against Bowling Green), making the play, strip sack. It just gives you more energy, more juice, more confidence, and just gets it going because we were a little flat, especially — and Coach (Jesse) Minter, he challenged us at halftime, he said, ‘We talked about all week how we want to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand and create turnovers. How about we go do it.’ So that kind of lit a fire in me a little bit.”

So far this year, Harrell has recorded nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and more. This weekend, Harrell and the Michigan football defense will look to defend their No. 1 ranking when Rutgers comes to town for the Big Ten conference opener, which will kick off at noon at Michigan Stadium.

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