Michigan has still had one of the better defenses in the Big Ten the last two years, even though it took a step back from the elite level we’d seen under Jesse Minter. Now, Jay Hill, a veteran coach with a long track record of success at the college level, takes over as the new defensive coordinator and is faced with a group that’s lacking in depth and experience in some areas.
With that comes pressure to perform when given the opportunity. Some players will be stepping into starting roles for the first
time, while others might be expected to take their play to another level to raise the ceiling for the defense as a whole. Although there’s plenty of pressure for Michigan’s defense to be one of the nation’s best, here’s a look at the three players we think have the most to prove in 2026.
LB Troy Bowles
Linebacker seems to be the position this offseason that’s generated the most concern, with Michigan’s top four linebackers from last season all elsewhere now. It’ll be an entirely new look in the middle of the defense this year, and the player who stands to benefit the most is senior Troy Bowles, who played a rotational role on defense last season while also getting plenty of work on special teams.
Heading into the season, Bowles appears to be a starter, but he’ll have to prove the playing time is a product of his own development rather than the attrition in front of him on the depth chart. Bowles did flash some positives last season, mostly in pass coverage, and drew some rave reviews from the coaching staff this spring. That offers some hope he can be the tone-setter Michigan needs at linebacker, but we’ll still need to see it on the field first.
DE Dominic Nichols
John Henry Daley is at the top of the pecking order among defensive ends, but what about the guys behind him? In reality, Michigan has about four or five players that will be competing for snaps there to open the season, with Dominic Nichols squarely in the mix and looking to take on a bigger role.
Nichols has been mentioned as an early standout at fall camp, an encouraging sign for a player who has been viewed as someone with high potential for some time now. He generated even more buzz last offseason, but he ultimately didn’t see the field as much as we expected. Now, with another year of seasoning, the chance to work with a new coaching staff and get stronger in the weight room, Nichols has the chance to put his potential on display and cement himself as a starter, rather than just a rotational piece.
CB Shamari Earls
The top three spots are pretty set in stone for the Wolverines at this juncture with Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill, and Smith Snowden starting in some combination on the boundaries and at nickel. These three won’t be getting 100 percent of the snaps, of course, thus the need for someone else in the cornerback room to prove worthy of a big relief role. The leading candidate for this would be sophomore Shamari Earls, a former highly-rated four-star recruit who didn’t see much playing time last season.
Much like Jyaire Hill, Earls is a gifted athlete with plenty of size that should help him against some of the great receivers he’ll see over the course of this season in the Big Ten. Before he sees the field regularly, though, he’ll need to prove that he’s been able to develop his coverage skills and show that he’s not simply over-reliant on his physical tools like he seemed to be at times as a freshman and as a recruit. Making a good impression this season would obviously mean big things for Michigan’s outlook in 2025, but it would also give him a leg up to be the team’s top corner in years to come. Not to mention, when you wear the No. 2 jersey on defense for Michigan, some big expectations come with it.
