Michigan football players 'excited' for new defense

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Defense has been Michigan football's calling card since, well, forever. And it was good (sometimes great) in the early Jim Harbaugh years, before taking a bit of a break from stopping teams for a few years. But then, in 2021, Mike Macdonald changed everything, and Jesse Minter took the scheme to another level the next two years. In 2024, with both having left for the NFL, their mentor, Wink Martindale, took over. And it had its moments, but it also had its bust — especially on third-and-long. Even so, it was one of the best defenses in the country statistically, with very few teams able to move the ball down the field with any seeming ease.

Now the Wolverines don't have all of the names, nor do they have the depth. But the extant players from the previous team are excited about what new defensive coordinator Jay Hill brings to the table.

On The Team podcast on YouTube, linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng shared with Chase Herbstreit why he's excited about this upcoming year as it pertains to the defensive side of the ball.

"I would definitely say the defensive scheme that we have this year, it's fast, it's physical," Owusu-Boateng said. "Guys just not thinking too much, just shooting their gun. A big thing that we saw from last year was obviously we didn't get to where we wanted to last year. But with this new coaching staff and with new players and with new players who can help us get to where we want to, I feel like everybody should really be excited, because I know I am."

One thing Hill had noted on the In the Trenches podcast, it's the most complicated defense in the country, and it will take through fall camp to install all of it. Even so, with much of the upside, players know what the defense can be.

When it comes to turnovers, BYU under Hill last year had the ninth-most interceptions in 2025, and the most in all of college football in 2024. And for Michigan cornerback Jyaire Hill, he feels like fans are going to see a lot more takeaways compared to recent years, with a new defensive coordinator leading the charge.

"I feel like one of the things when the fans want to see — more excitement," Hill said. "We got like more swag, more ballplayers. So it's going to be a lot of big plays. It's going to be made. I mean, if they get fans, they want to see some more (turnover) buffs. So we're going to get that to them, for sure. You know, put a little personality out there. Get them a little dance or something."

Spring ball is set to begin on Tuesday, with eyes on the April 18 spring game at The Big House.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football players 'excited' for new defense

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