Michigan Football: Top 5 storylines to follow this spring

2. Can Michigan sustain its losses on defense?

Without question, Michigan had a fearsome defense last season. According to ESPN’s rankings, the Wolverines ranked No. 2 in the country in total defense.

That being said, Michigan suffered severe losses to key players either through graduation or those who decided to leave college early pursuing NFL aspirations.

Among these departures chiefly were defensive linemen Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich and linebacker Devin Bush.

All of these players have first or second round potential and given their skill sets, could make immediate impacts at the professional level.

Tyree Kinnell, the team’s total tackle leader from a season ago, is another player the team lost as he was a senior last year.

Despite losing a slew of NFL-ready talent, Michigan still brings back a few components, mostly in the secondary, that might help soften the blow.

Two of Michigan’s primary returning pieces that will likely anchor the defense are cornerback Josh Metellus, who made 47 total tackles in 2018 and linebacker Josh Ross, who made the most tackles (54) among all returning players last year.

Michigan’s defense may not be as strong as previous seasons considering it lost a fair amount of talent, but it isn’t completely devoid of experience and skill.