5 Michigan Football defensive players from the last decade we’d want in 2026
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Yesterday, we gave our five players on offense over the past decade that we would want to add to this year’s Michigan Football roster. Now, it’s time for the defense.
If we could add a player et every position for 2026, here are our picks for the five players on defense.
Defensive Tackle – Mason Graham (2022-24)
Graham was a two-time All-American and a two-time All-Big Ten player. He finished his career with 107 tackles, including 17 tackles for loss, nine sacks and three pass deflections. Graham also had the toughness and attitude you want out of a player at his position. Michigan’s defensive line was at another level with him, so he seems like an easy pick here, even though there were other great players like Maurice Hurst, Kenneth Grant and others.
Defensive End – Aidan Hutchinson (2018-21)
One player who helped completely turn around Michigan’s record against Ohio State is Hutchinson. The 2021 consensus All-American finished his career with 153 tackles, including 25 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks. In 2021 alone, he had 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, finishing as a runner-up in Heisman voting. His leadership on and off the field helped jumpstart Michigan’s resurgence.
Linebacker – Devin Bush (2016-18)
Here’s another consensus All-American that could help on a relatively young and unproven unit in 2026. Bush had 193 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks for the Wolverines. This year’s linebacker room isn’t full of a lot of experience and lost one of its best players to the transfer portal in the offseason. If there’s one player that’d have a huge impact this season, Bush is certainly a top contender.
Cornerback – Mike Sainristil (2019-23)
You don’t say no to a corner who had six interceptions and two interception return touchdowns in a single season. Sainristil also had the leadership and communication skills you want in a player in the secondary. After making the switch to defense, he compiled a career 108 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, seven picks and two forced fumbles. While Michigan’s secondary might have the most returning talent anywhere on the defense in 2026, you can never have enough players and leaders like Sainristil.
Safety – Daxton Hill (2019-21)
The 2021 All-Big Ten honoree finished his junior season with 63 tackles, four tackles for loss and one interception. Hill’s one interception was during the Nebraska game that season that could’ve gone another way, totally upending the Wolverines’ season. He finished his career with 145 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. The coaches could also move him around on defense and line him up where they needed him, depending on the play call. Again, the safety position isn’t hurting as bad as some others, but having Hill on the roster would be great.
If you could only pick one, which defensive player would you like to add at each position to the 2026 roster? Let us know in the comments below!
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