Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter talks 'dominant' Mazi Smith, other spring standouts

Michigan Wolverines football’s defense has a different look this spring than it did last fall. Playmakers like Aidan Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Josh Ross, Daxton Hill, Brad Hawkins and Vincent Gray are gone. But that doesn’t mean others haven’t stepped up.

Redshirt junior defensive end Taylor Upshaw is one who thought he could’ve thrived at a higher level earlier in his career, but he was buried behind other talented players. It’s his time to step up for Michigan at edge defender, and he says he’s ready.

“There are a lot of guys that maybe felt held back a little bit by the big presence of the last two [edge defenders, Hutchinson and Ojabo], that now will get a chance to step out into their own,” Michigan first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “And I’m excited to see how it goes as we go.

Added Minter: “[Michigan redshirt sophomore defensive end] Mike Morris, Taylor Upshaw are guys that have had good springs that I think will be guys that can make plays for us.”

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Those are just a couple examples. There are several Michigan defenders who were in similar situations last fall, and others who played significant roles — starters — but are set to take the next step and become focal points on the unit. Redshirt sophomore nose tackle Mazi Smith is in the latter category. He’s been mentioned as a Wolverine who’s bringing more of a vocal presence, and he’s upped his game as well.

“Up front, it starts with Mazi,” first-year Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said. “I think he has the potential to be a dominant player for us.”

Smith played 544 snaps last season — the eighth-most of any Michigan defender — and enjoyed a breakout season in his first taste of starting on the defensive line. He made 37 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, four pass breakups, and four quarterback hurries, and his 21 pressures ranked third on the unit behind Hutchinson and Ojabo, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

There’s a belief Smith will be even stronger against the run and potentially more of a weapon as a pass rusher, something Michigan will need now that it likely doesn’t have two first-round picks on the edges.

“He’s played a lot,” Minter continued. “He’s played a good amount of snaps. He’s been in a role in the defense where he was asked to do some things have taken up blocks and all that, and he’ll still do that. He’s tremendous at that. But I also think there’s an opportunity for him to become a playmaker and use his skill set.

“He’s quick, fast, big, physical, it’s what you want in a nose.”

Manufacturing A Pass Rush

Speaking of pass rush, Minter believes Michigan can still be strong in that regard. The scheme and calls will be a bit different, though, like they are from any one year to the next.

“Schematically, there are some things that you may have to create rushes more, maybe more than last year,” Minter said of manufacturing a Michigan pass rush. “And one of the things — we got Mike Elston as our D-line coach. His track record of having high numbers of sacks with his D-line, he’s never had maybe a true elite guy there and has done a really good job of mixing in stunts and games and things like that to create rushes.

“That’s something that we’re gonna have to be good at. But time will tell. I think there are a lot of options.”

Junior Colson Can Be ‘Elite,’ Secondary Coming Along

Michigan sophomore linebacker Junior Colson — a 2021 freshman All-American — lived up to the hype last season and was way too good to keep off the field. He took over starting duties roughly halfway into the season and finished with 61 tackles, which slotted second on the team.

“I think Junior Colson has a chance to be an elite linebacker here,” Minter said.

The Michigan defensive backfield will have a much different look this season, but there are several players who have seen a lot of time in secondary roles.

At safety, third-year sophomores R.J. Moten and Makari Paige have stepped up, and the Wolverines will get sophomore Rod Moore back in the fall (injury).

Redshirt sophomore cornerback DJ Turner II is the top guy at his position, and is joined by redshirt junior Gemon Green and freshman early enrollee Will Johnson as guys battling for the other starting spot. Junior Mike Sainristil moving from wideout to nickel has the Michigan coaches feeling better than expected about the secondary.

“In the back end, I think there’s a really good core of experience, guys that have played enough snaps,” Minter said. “And we’ll get Rod back in the fall. But I think there’s a good group of guys there that just from their experience, and how the amount of snaps that they’ve played, that we can put together a good secondary as well.”