Wolverine Digest

PFF ranks Michigan football's defensive line heading into 2025 season

The Wolverines should have one of the top defensive line units.
Trent Knoop|
Junfu Han via Imagn Content Services, LLC

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Entering 2025, what's likely going to be the strength of the Michigan football defense will be the defensive line. It's been a theme of the Wolverines over the last several seasons. Michigan has gone through disruptive linemen who paved their way into the NFL. Last season, the Wolverines had Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Josaiah Stewart, but even after losing them, Michigan is expected to have a top defensive line unit.

According to Pro Football Focus, Michigan has the No. 6 defensive line in the country. Clemson, Alabama, Texas Tech, Florida, and Penn State are ranked ahead of the Wolverines.

The Wolverines are the fifth and final team on this list with multiple players mentioned in my edge defender/defensive tackle rankings. Even though Michigan lost two defensive tackles who were top-15 picks in Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, it has another star in Rayshaun Benny. He’s my No. 9 interior defender in America and was 16th among them last year with an 83.1 PFF grade. Derrick Moore is my No. 10 edge defender in the country and was third in the nation last year with a 23.4% pass-rush win rate.

TJ Guy is also back along the edge for the Wolverines, and he was one of eight Big Ten edge rushers last year with 75.0-plus grades both as a pass-rusher and as a run-defender.
Max Chadwick (PFF)
Derrick Moor
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Derrick Moore, TJ Guy, and Rayshaun Benny all return as veterans who have done it at the collegiate level. But they aren't the only players who will make an impact for the Wolverines. Michigan added veteran Tre Williams and Damon Payne Jr. via the portal. They are both expected to rotate with Benny to give Michigan three formidable interior linemen.

The Wolverines also have younger players who are going to play vital roles in 2025. Edges Dominic Nichols and Cameron Bradnt, along with interior guys like Trey Pierce, Enow Etta, and Ike Iwunnah.

Barring any injuries in 2025, the Wolverines should be elite once again on the defensive line.

- Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Trent Knoop
TRENT KNOOP

Trent began writing and covering Michigan athletics back in 2020. He became a credentialed member of the media in 2021. Trent began writing with Sports Illustrated in 2023 and became the Managing Editor for Michigan Wolverines On SI during the 2025 football season. Trent also serves as the Publisher of Baylor Bears on SI. His other bylines have appeared on Maryland on SI, Wisconsin on SI, and across the USA TODAY Sports network. Trent’s love of sports and being able to tell stories to fans is what made him get into writing.

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