Michigan Wolverines Football: End of Year Defensive Grades for 2024

The Michigan Wolverines football team finished 8-5 in the 2024 season, and while the offense was lackluster, the defense shined, showcasing multiple NFL-level talents. The defense truly started to click in November, as they only allowed 12.3 points per game against three top-15 opponents. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale started to settle into his new role, and gave fans a lot to look forward to regarding the defense in 2025, even while losing many players to the NFL. 

Michigan finished 10th in yards allowed per game, fourth in rushing yards allowed per game, and 58th in passing yards allowed per game. How did all of Michigan’s defensive starters grade out this season? Let’s fine out.

Michigan Wolverines Defensive Grades

Defensive Line

Josaiah Stewart: A+

The formal Coastal Carolina transfer was a critical part of the 2023 national championship team, but he returned in 2024 to showcase his ability and raise his draft stock. He made the most of his opportunity this season, playing in 11 games and finishing with 8.5 sacks and 37 pressures. Stewart was also a steady force in the run game with 26 stops. According to PFF, he finished with a 91.2 defensive grade, ranking him as the fifth-best edge defender in college football.

Stewart’s best game of the season came in a massive win versus USC, where he recorded eight pressures and two sacks. Stewart was everything Michigan fans could have hoped for in his return to the program for one last year.

Mason Graham: A+

Mason Graham was excellent in three years as a starter at Michigan. From the day he came in as a freshman, he dominated upfront, eating up blocks in the run game and making substantial explosive plays as a run defender and pass rusher. Graham was a first-team AP All-American this season, and with 3.5 sacks, 34 pressures, and 30 run stops. He ended the season with a 90.9 defensive grade, which was first out of 894 interior defensive linemen.

Graham was essential to some great Michigan teams and three wins versus Ohio State. This year, his presence could not be understated. He was a critical part of Michigan shutting down the Ohio State run game. Graham cemented his status as a Wolverines legend and one of the best Michigan players ever.

Kenneth Grant: A+

In June 2022, Jim Harbaugh sat before the Big Ten and told the media that he had “a gift from the football gods” in freshman Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Grant fulfilled everything Harbaugh set out for him. He was a critical part of the 2023 national championship team and further solidified his status as the best nose tackle in college football in 2024.

Grant finished the season with three sacks, 27 pressures, and 22 run stops. His 82.7 defensive grade made him one of PFF’s highest-rated nose tackle. Grant showcased what he could bring to NFL teams while helping Michigan win games. His pure strength and power are a lot to handle for most college guards. He was indeed a gift from the football gods and one of Michigan’s most unique players in recent history. 

Derrick Moore: B

Derrick Moore was the least talked about player on Michigan’s defensive line, but he quietly put together an excellent season for the Wolverines. Fans expected Moore to take a big step forward this season. While the sack numbers weren’t there, his presence as a pass rusher was always felt.

Moore totaled four sacks, 36 pressures, and 14 run stops. His ability as a pass-rusher was showcased in the team’s biggest games of the year. Against Ohio State and Alabama, Moore had eight pressures, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Moore decided to come back for his senior season, and he will now be the premier player on Michigan’s defensive line. He will surely be due for a breakout season in 2025, in his second year in the Martindale system.

Linebackers

Jaishawn Barham: C

Former Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham entered the Michigan program this past season. His size profile excited many fans for his potential and ability to be a dominant force in the middle of Michigan’s defense. However, Barham struggled to gain his footing early in the season. He struggled in pass coverage and had some missed tackle and pursuit issues. As the season progressed, Barham got more comfortable in his role.

Barham ended the season with 66 total tackles and four tackles for loss. He didn’t miss a tackle from Week 6 to the Ohio State game. While he took strides in some areas of his game, particularly his run defense, he still struggled as a pass defender throughout the season. Barham and Michigan both noticed his strengths and agreed that he would begin moving to edge rusher for the 2025 season. There, the team felt his strengths will be better utilized and his weaknesses more mitigated.

Ernest Hausmann: B

This season, Ernest Hausman, the former Nebraska transfer, entered the starting role as the Mike linebacker. He sat behind two NFL linebackers in the 2023 season, and he was ready to elevate himself into his new role.

Hausmann had an up-and-down year filled with big, explosive plays but also missed tackles and assignments in coverage. He struggled throughout the season with missed tackles, an issue for the entire Michigan team. He was a solid coverage linebacker, but there were weeks when he was a liability as a pass defender.

Hausmann had a solid year, totaling 89 tackles. He had more positives than negatives, especially near the end of the season. That leads for hope he can improve going forward.

Cornerbacks

Will Johnson: A+

Will Johnson came into this season as a solidified top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. His dominant 2023 season showcased his talents and proved why he was the top cornerback in college football. In three seasons, Johnson has nine interceptions and three touchdowns. In the 2024 season, he struggled with injuries, but was still dominant every time he stepped onto the field.

Johnson was often the only reason Michigan could put points on the board with two touchdowns this season. He only allowed 15 catches this year, and allowed a 49.3 passer rating. Johnson will be one of the best cornerbacks in Michigan and college football history, and he will forever be a national champion and a Wolverines legend.

Jyaire Hill: A

Jyaire Hill was a redshirt freshman playing the boundary corner opposite Johnson this season. He had big shoes to fill, and the young corner got off to a rocky start, particularly versus Texas. Hill allowed eight catches for 105 yards and a touchdown in that matchup. After that game, he truly settled into his role. He only allowed more than four catches just once, and allowed two catches or less in seven games.

Hill excelled when Johnson went down with an injury, and was tasked with being the top corner for the Michigan Wolverines.

Zeke Berry: C-

Coming out of camp, Zeke Berry won the starting slot cornerback job and had enormous shoes to fill. Berry was solid and certainly showed flashes of potential, but he lacked consistency. Slot cornerback is challenging, and Berry took time adjusting to his new role.

Berry allowed 39 catches for 515 yards and five touchdowns, making him average. His best game of the season came against Indiana, where he was targeted eight times but only allowed three catches for 44 yards. Berry will be back as the starting slot cornerback for the Wolverines next season. He should see improvement in his play with a full season of reps under his belt.

Aamir Hall: B+

In the spring transfer portal, Aamir Hall transferred to Michigan from Albany. He was dominant at Albany, and many thought he would be a starting corner come Week 1. Hall didn’t win the job, but was inserted into the starting lineup after Johnson went down with an injury.

From Week 5-11, he struggled to acclimate to the position, allowing 10 catches on 10 targets for 205 yards and two touchdowns. However, in November, he began to settle into his new role. In the last four games of the season, he allowed nine catches on 13 targets for just 64 yards and no touchdowns. He came down with a critical interception in the Ohio State game that also put Michigan within the 10-yard line, where the offense scored a touchdown. Hall will likely be a starting boundary cornerback next year, and it will be a big year to show he can stick at the position.

Safeties

Makari Paige: B-

Makari Paige took a step back this season, and struggled with consistency throughout the year. Missed tackles became a significant issue for Paige, as did inconsistencies in pass coverage. However, Paige was still a presence for Michigan and helped elevate the Wolverines defense.

He came up with a huge interception in the redzone versus Ohio State to keep them from scoring, and he had many huge plays throughout his career at Michigan.