Kris Jenkins announces return to Michigan football for senior season

The Michigan football program received yet another piece of good news on Monday afternoon as defensive tackle Kris Jenkins announced he would be returning for his fourth year with the program.

Kris Jenkins’ time at Michigan

Jenkins had his best season as a Wolverine during the 2022 season, posting 54 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks during Michigan’s Big Ten Championship campaign. The Olney, MD native was effective beyond the stat sheet as well, regularly blowing up plays in the backfield and stuffing runs for no gain.

Jenkins’ play has taken a massive step each of the last two seasons, as he started to flash as a sophomore on the 2021 Michigan team that went 12-2, winning the Big Ten and participating in the College Football Playoff. During his junior campaign in 2023, Jenkins was an integral part of Michigan’s “no-star defense,” a nickname coined by head coach Jim Harbaugh in the preseason. Led by Jenkins, the Michigan defense gave up an average of 16.1 points per game this past season, good enough for seventh in the country.

What does this mean for Michigan football?

Jenkins’ return gives Michigan one of the deepest and most talented defensive line rooms in the country, with rising sophomores Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant looking to take the next step towards stardom, while rising junior Rayshaun Benny has shown flashes of immense potential during his time in Arbor.

Braiden McGregor, Derrick Moore, and Jaylen Harrell are all back at the defensive end position, and Coastal Carolina transfer Josiah Stewart very well may be a first round pick caliber EDGE rusher. It’s safe to say Michiagn’s defensive front will be loaded yet again. While Michigan did lose two corners to the NFL Draft in DJ Turner and Gemon Green, defensive tackle Mazi Smith, and defensive end Mike Morris, they return enough production and filled any gaps with players from the transfer portal. It’s safe to say the Wolverines will have another top 10 unit for the 2023 season.

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