ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It hasn’t always been pretty, the Michigan football defensive attack. But it’s been effective.
After the USC loss, there was a lot of soul-searching inside Schembechler Hall, and with that came a renewed focus from the veterans. But there has been an unlikelier outcome (though not just after that game) — younger players getting opportunities in key moments.
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While the youth movement on offense has been oft-discussed, with three redshirt freshmen starting on the offensive line, a redshirt freshman running back, and true freshmen at quarterback and wide receiver, it’s been less publicized on the defensive side of the ball. Perhaps that’s been because the freshmen on defense haven’t been starting, but they’ve been in and impactful, nonetheless.
On Wednesday, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale acknowledged the true freshmen who have been out there, noting first safety Jordan Young’s pass breakup, but also how other young players have made the most of their opportunities.
“It was pretty cool to see, the play that J.Y. (Jordan Young) made,” Martindale said. “The different guys that jumped out and were celebrating with him on the sideline. But also, when you look at that end zone shot on the all-22, you had J.Y. out there who made the play. Everybody saw that. But you had Chase Taylor and (Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng), two freshman linebackers in there. You had (Jayden Sanders) at the other corner. We had a lot of young guys in there at a pivotal time of the game, and they came out big. So, that was exciting.
“Like I said, I was just really happy for the players and, you know, how they stood up to every challenge.”
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As for Taylor and Owusu-Boateng, it marks two straight games that the freshman duo have been out on the field in key moments. Sanders and fellow cornerback Elijah Dotson have both seen quite a lot of action this season.
So, why has Martindale felt comfortable inserting the younger players? It’s the trust he has in those evaluating, he says.
“No. 1 with me is the trust in the assistant coaches,” Martindale said. “I think we’ve got a great staff. I always tell you guys that, and those guys have done a tremendous job of building up their room and taking what they have in their room, and we’re reaping the rewards from it. Now later on, towards the end of the season, if they put them out there, I’ve got confidence in them because I’ve got confidence in the assistant coaches. And like I said, both the players and the coaches have been outstanding this year.”
Up next, Michigan faces Maryland in College Park, with rival Ohio State looming the following week.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan leans on unexpected contributors as season pressure rises
