Despite the 8-5 record last year, Michigan is setting themselves up for another interesting year on defense. Leading the way are three players who could be finding themselves with a little extra hardware when the 2018 season comes to an end.
This week, the Bednarik Award watch list was released and unsurprisingly Michigan (coming off a No. 3 total defensive ranking in 2017) was well represented.
According to the Maxwell Football Club, Rashan Gary, Chase Winovich, and Devin Bush were named to the Bednarik preseason watch list which will ultimately recognize the best player in college football come seasons end.
Last year, each of those players had quite an impact on that Wolverine defense and 2018 should be no different.
Since starting his career at Michigan as a tight end, Chase Winovich has made a nice transition to the other side of the ball accumulating 13.5 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss. This includes 19 tackles for loss in 2017.
Rashan Gary, a former No. 1 overall recruit in 2016 according to 247 Sports, has certainly made his presence known on the defensive line racking up 5.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season.
Meanwhile, Devin Bush was arguably Michigan’s biggest playmaker on defense in 2017 playing in all 13 games while working like an absolute madman at times with 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. All this coming too standing at 5-foot-11 and 222-pounds.
Gary may have the hype and Bush may have a high motor however it’s hard to look past just how good Winovich has gotten since moving to defense and how much better he can get with another offseason and season under his belt. In any sense, opposing offenses will have to take big time note on either one of these three.
