Why the defensive line will be a ‘strong suit’ for Michigan Football in 2026

Q: Who are the key returning players on Michigan's defensive line for 2026?

Key returning players include defensive ends Cameron Brandt, Dominic Nichols, Nate Marshall, and defensive tackles Enow Etta and Trey Pierce.

Q: What improvements does Michigan aim to make on their defensive line in 2026?

Michigan aims to generate more pressure on quarterbacks and dominate opposing offensive lines while maintaining their legacy of elite defensive play.

Q: What challenges did Michigan's defensive line face in the previous season?

Last season, Michigan's defensive line struggled to create pressure, evidenced by a low sack rate of 6.17%, despite being strong against the run.

Q: Who is the new defensive assistant coach for Michigan and what impact is he having?

The new defensive assistant coach is Lewis Powell, who has made a positive impression on players and is helping them improve their performance in practice.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 01: Cameron Brandt #9 of the Michigan Wolverines runs by Joey Tanona #79 of the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half at Michigan Stadium on November 01, 2025 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Michigan Wolverines lost a lot of talent on the defensive line from last season, but head coach Kyle Whittingham believes the new-look unit will continue to be a legitimate strength of the defense in his first year with the program. “We have felt really good about the depth up front on defense,” Whittingham told the media last week. “I feel like those guys have all really stepped up during spring football so the defensive line should be a real strong suit for us.” Michigan experienced a massive overhaul on the defensive front, as edge rushers Derrick Moore, Jaishawn Barham and T.J. Guy, as well as defensive tackles Rayshaun Benny, Damon Payne Jr. and Tre Williams are all off to the NFL. However, the Wolverines have no shortage of top-end talent with defensive ends Cameron Brandt, Dominic Nichols and Nate Marshall, along with defensive tackles Enow Etta and Trey Pierce returning to a revamped defensive line room. “Right now, I feel like we have five defensive tackles and five defensive ends that are going to be guys that we can win with, and that’s all you can really hope for,” Whittingham said. “If you have two-and-a-half guys, you have a good rotation.” Not only does Michigan have a slew of returners on the defensive line, but also some skilled transfers that followed Whittingham from Utah to Ann Arbor in edge rusher John Henry Daley and defensive tackle Jonah Lea’ea. The Wolverines also have some under-the-radar players that have stood out in spring practice and could carve out key roles this year, including defensive tackle Deyvid Palepale, and defensive ends Lugard Edokpayi and Benny Patterson III. “Jonah Lea’ea is a dog and Deyvid Palepale is just a beast. We’ve been seeing it in practice and everybody else is going to notice this year,” Pierce said. “Palepale is a freak athlete who puts his head down and just works at defensive tackle.” The defensive line has been a strength of the defense in recent years, and it appears it will be once again in 2026. Led by a combination of explosiveness, experience and versatility, the defensive front should have a chance to be elite. The Wolverines also brought in one of the nation’s premier defensive assistant coaches in Lewis Powell. He has made an impression on his position group early on. “He’s such a lovable guy and coach,” Brandt said. “He’s been getting after us on and off the field, making sure we’re doing the right things and attacking, and being competitive each day in practice. He’s been a great person to learn from.” “Maybe it’s because I’m a bit older and see things differently now, but I made a big jump with the help of his coaching,” Nichols said. “He will always have your back, so it just makes you want to play harder for him. I’m a fan of coach Powell.” Despite having a new cast of characters, the defensive line appears to be in good hands and could be even better than last season, where the Wolverines were among the nation’s best run defenses but struggled to create pressure at times. Michigan allowed 112.2 rushing yards per game (fifth in the Big Ten, 17th in the country), but the defense failed to pressure the quarterback consistently with a 6.17 percent sack rate, which was 12th in the Big Ten. In order to continue to be a strength of the defense, but also improve on the weaknesses from last year, the Wolverines must generate more pressure, dominate opposing offensive lines and keep up the legacy of having elite defensive lines. “Coach Powell says it every day that there’s just a standard when you come here to Michigan,” Brandt said. “For all of the guys that came here before us, it’s our chance to continue to step into that legacy and just carry that on.”