Jesse Minter talks up-and-comers making moves on defense
Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter has a wealth of talent to work with on the defensive side of the ball in his second season, on all three levels. The defensive line has been playing extremely well, the linebackers are building depth, and the secondary has been very good in the early going.
Minter said earlier this week he was happy with the pass rush, though it had only been seven practices. He’s still looking for another corner and figuring out the secondary, but it’s coming together. Joining the the Big Ten Network road show Monday, he identified several up-and-comers in addition to the starters and backups that are making moves.
“[Starting] up front, a guy that started to play some reps late in the year was Rayshaun Benny,” Minter said of the junior defensive tackle. “I’m really excited about him. He’s going into his third year but almost seems younger than [sophomore] Mason Graham, even though Mason is a year younger. [Sophomore] Kenneth Grant, I think, is going to be a guy everybody’s going to know about. He’s a nose tackle … big, big body. He looks like Michigan defensive lineman that we’ve had here.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh reported that the defensive line got the better of the offensive line Monday, especially in goal line drills. The pass rush was outstanding in the Saturday scrimmage per our sources, and that group might be the most impressive so far in camp.
At linebacker, Junior Colson and Michael Barrett are penciled in as starters. Others, though, are also making moves, including one name we haven’t heard much from.
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“At the second level, Jaydon Hood is a linebacker that has progressed to add depth to our linebacking corps,” Minter said. “I think Ernest Hausmann, a transfer from Nebraska, is going to be a really big-time addition for us.”
The secondary, meanwhile, is loaded with experience. Sophomore corner Will Johnson and safety Rod Moore are two who should be All-Big Ten in 2023, at least. Safety Makari Paige is playing his best football, and several of the corners are impressing.
“On the back end, it’s a whole host of guys [contributing],” Minter said. “We have a lot of experience returning, but there is some open competition for some cornerback play and third, fourth safety, those types of positions. [Sophomore] Keon Sabb is a guy we’re really pleased with how he’s progressing. Josh Wallace, who we picked up in the portal [from UMass] … he’s not young, but he’s new for us. We’re very excited about him. [Sophomore] Amorion Walker, Keshaun Harris — those are some of the names that haven’t played a lot here that I think will give us what we need throughout the year.”
