Michigan has six defensive tackles that will come 'in waves,' including two 'home-run' transfers

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football defensive line coach Lou Esposito had his work cut out for him this offseason. The Maize and Blue lost two projected first-round NFL Draft picks at defensive tackle in Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and Esposito and Co. are tasked with replacing them this fall.

Michigan brought back graduate Rayshaun Benny and others, plus reeled in two transfers in Tré Williams (Clemson) and Damon Payne (Alabama) from the portal.

“The exciting part of it is we have some really good players coming back, and we’ve added some really good players,” Esposito said. “And then the other thing is some of these young guys that are in the system, that have now been here a year, are starting really, really to get special and be the players that we thought they were going to be.”

Esposito was already pleased with the defensive tackles Michigan had before the Williams and Payne additions, but now he believes the Wolverines have plenty of options up front, which will lead to a lot of rotation.

“Benny coming back, [junior] Trey Pierce, [junior] Enow [Etta] and [graduate] Ike [Iwunnah] — you felt good with. And then you add Tré Williams and Mr. Payne back, and you feel really, really good.

“It’ll be more of waves than it’ll be, hey, we’re gonna ride these guys out and let them play as long as they can and then put you in for a little bit and then when they’re back we put them back in.

“We’re being very systematic in how we do our rotations. I tell them all the time, they’re all starters. Depending on what period you watch, one group will be in with the ones, and the next group will be in three plays later — and that’s how we’re going to have to train those guys.

“One, it gives guys a bunch of reps. And two, you’re starting to see combinations happening. You talk about an offensive line, you gotta have five guys jelling, you gotta have those guys up front — whether we have four down lineman or five down linemen — knowing who they’re playing with. Those guys have been doing a great job of that, so we’re excited about it.”

Williams and Payne both mostly played backup roles at their previous schools, seeing time behind talented plays, much like Benny did the last four seasons. However, Esposito believes they could thrive in Michigan’s scheme under second-year coordinator Wink Martindale, who engineered defenses in the NFL.

“The biggest thing is, do they fit our system? We play a unique system,” Esposito noted. “Our system is we’re gonna build a run wall. You have to be stout inside; you have to hold good edges. And you have to have guys that have the ability to do that.

“There are some guys who play in gap and attack systems that are gonna have a bunch of stats and they’re jumping up the field and they’re creating vertical lanes and horizontal lanes because it’s gap and attack. That’s not what we do here; we play an NFL-style defense. We’re gonna hold the point, we’re gonna be firm, we’re gonna build a run wall.

“And those guys fit into our system. That’s tape-wise, and then you obviously research their background — who are they as a person? Do they fit our culture? And both those guys were home runs for us.”

Payne recorded 14 tackles, including 1 for loss, and a fumble recovery in 12 games at Alabama last season. Williams, meanwhile, tallied 14 tackles, including 3 for loss with 2 sacks, 2 pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries.

Esposito is steadfast that Michigan’s ability to rotate heavily up front and keep the defensive linemen fresh, coupled with the size the Wolverines have, will be a difference-maker.

“Each guy is unique in his own way, and they do things that are special,” the Michigan assistant said. “The one thing that we do have is a lot of big bodies.

“Damon Payne is 315 pounds. Enow is 320 pounds. Ike’s 315 pounds. Trey Pierce is 310 pounds. Benny is 300 pounds. Tre Williams is 320 pounds.

“Those six guys inside are all really, really big. And football is still a game of big people leaning on little people. When you have to take somebody and move them where they don’t want to go, sometimes if you’re bigger, it’s a little bit easier, especially later in the game. So, we’re excited about those guys.

“And then you still have some of the freshmen that were here last year that are doing a good job, too, so it’s great competition. I’m a big believer that iron sharpens iron, competition breeds success. So now it’s, hey, you’re not doing it right — the next guy in. We’ve been really fortunate in the spring, and there’s been great competition there.”