Sporting News released a list of the top 25 defenders in college football for next year. Several Wolverines made the cut:
No. 18 Khaleke Hudson:
We listed Hudson as safety, but he’s more of a safety-linebacker hybrid in Michigan’s “Viper” position, where he led the Wolverines in tackles for loss (18.5) and tied the team lead for sacks (eight) and interceptions (two). He boasts the speed of a safety and hard-hitting ability of a linebacker, and will only get better in his second season at the position.
No. 15 Chase Winovich:
Winovich might not get as much recognition as teammate Rashan Gary, but he was the Michigan’s most productive pass-rusher in 2017, finishing second on the team with 18 tackles for loss, tying the team lead with eight sacks and leading all FBS defensive ends with 14 quarterback hits. He’s a talented pass-rusher who can do it as well from a three-point stance as he can from his feet. He’ll be a terror with another year in Don Brown’s system.
No. 13 Devin Bush:
Bush, perhaps more than any other Michigan defender, best typified Don Brown’s defense: fast, aggressive, swarming. He was all over the field for the Wolverines in 2017, compiling a team-high 102 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception and eight pass break-ups. That shouldn’t change in 2018 either.
No. 7 Rashan Gary:
Gary is a physical specimen at defensive end, a 6-5, 280-pound monster who can wreak havoc on offensive linemen. He secured 12 tackles for loss and six sacks in 2017, but he’s so much more than a stat line: He can do it all, from stuffing the run to penetrating the backfield to crushing the quarterback. He’s fast, powerful and fearsome — a perfect storm of a defender.
