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Michigan football's D-line recruits still chasing the breakthrough Jim Harbaugh projected

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks to the media on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019, in Ann Arbor. Orion Sang, Detroit Free Press

Earlier this season, Jim Harbaugh told reporters that Chris Hinton and Mazi Smith were "on the precipice of breaking through and playing more."

It would've been a big deal for Michigan's defensive line, considering Hinton and Smith's raw talent and untapped potential.

The two freshmen were among the Wolverines' highest-ranked signees in the 2019 class; Hinton, a five-star prospect, was ranked No. 31 in the nation, and Smith, a four-star prospect, was ranked No.