Michigan Wolverines Defense Gears Up With Returning Players

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan Wolverines football team has been battling injuries in their defensive backfield early in the season, but the situation is improving. Graduate safety Rod Moore returned to action against Nebraska for the first time in the 2023 season, playing 21 snaps, and is expected to see more time as the season progresses.

Senior cornerback DJ Turner has also been sidelined for the last two games due to an ankle injury, but he is nearing a return. Despite these setbacks, the Wolverines have developed depth, with three freshman cornerbacks seeing significant playing time during their recent 30-27 victory over Nebraska.

“I think that E-Dot is a fiery competitor, which I love,” said defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. “He’s the same way in practice. He loves football. And same thing with Sanders. You could see from day one he really likes football and is a smart kid, attentive in meetings.”

Martindale highlighted the growing competition and improvement among his players, noting that the tackles and linebackers are performing better than earlier in the season. Sophomore linebacker Junior Colson has shown productivity that makes it hard to keep him off the field.

“I think our tackles are playing a lot better than what they were when they first started out,” Martindale said. “There’s competition across the board, even in the linebacker room.”

Head coach Jim Harbaugh praised Martindale, calling him a “wizard” for his ability to maximize the talents of the players available. “He’s putting those pieces where they fit the best,” Harbaugh said.

Martindale is aware of the challenges injuries pose, especially in the secondary, but believes in the flexibility of their defensive system. “It’s not just the corners. We’re able to call different things to cover up a guy’s weakness or show a guy’s strength,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Martindale expressed cautious optimism regarding the improvement of the Michigan secondary with Moore back and potential returns of other key players. “We’ll see,” he said. “It’s different in college football compared to pro. You need a lot more competition than what we already have.”