ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Despite returning all but two players who started in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama last year, some pundits question the validity of the Michigan football defense returning to form. With Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Will Johnson, and Josaiah Stewart departing the program (none of whom played in the bowl game), many anticipate that the Wolverines will take a step back.
However, the defensive tackles that dominated in the bowl game all return, and the Wolverines also added two ballyhooed interior linemen via the transfer portal in former Clemson DT Treu0301 Williams and Alabama's Damon Payne.