Michigan DT Mazi Smith: 'Maybe I can be the best player in the country'

Michigan Wolverines football has a “monster” in the middle of the defense — Mazi Smith. The senior nose guard was listed at 6-foot-3, 326 pounds back in the spring. Now, he looks even bigger but more cut than he ever has while at U-M, a great sign for a defensive line that lost its three other starters from 2021, including two All-American EDGEs in Aidan Hutchinson (first team) and second-teamer David Ojabo.

Smith had played in 58 defensive snaps during his first two seasons at Michigan, before notching 544 plays last season. During first two years on campus, he worked on sculpting his body and adjusting to the level of play while waiting behind other talented players.

It hasn’t been the most smooth journey — and Smith said he’s his own biggest critic, knowing he’ll never be a finished product — but he wouldn’t change how he’s gotten to where he is now.

“I’ve just really grown a lot at Michigan,” he said. “I’m not there yet, but I feel like when the time comes, I will be prepared for the real world. I’ll be prepared for the next level. Whatever life has in store for me.”

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Smith racked up 37 tackles with 2.5 for loss, four quarterback hurries and four pass breakups last season. He showed flashes of being a disruptor and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition. Now that the strength and conditioning are there, the potential is infinite for the Bednarik Award watch list honoree (nation’s top defensive player).

“I think some of it is up to God,” Smith said of what will happen next. “I think I held up my end of the bargain. I’m going to let Him take care of the rest.

Added Smith: “I think anything can happen. The sky is the limit.”

Smith is one of a few candidates to be Michigan’s top defender this fall, along with sophomore linebacker Junior Colson and senior cornerback DJ Turner.

“Dominant,” Turner said when asked to describe Smith. “A monster. A wall.”

He’s also become a leader on the Michigan defense and team overall. The Wolverines lost both captains on his side of the ball from 2021 — Hutchinson and linebacker Josh Ross — and new voices, including Smith’s have emerged.

“I love that dude,” senior quarterback Cade McNamara, another captain candidate, said. “Obviously, he’s an extremely big human being, but don’t get it twisted, he’s got a big heart, too. He’s a good friend of mine, he’s a day one for me since I got to Michigan. I was happy I was able to grow my relationship with him over the course of the last four years. I just really like that dude. I love that guy.”

Smith’s charisma have his Michigan teammates rooting for his success, and head coach Jim Harbaugh even said at Big Ten Media Days that the other conference players who were in attendance were likely gravitating toward him.

McNamara spoke about the challenge Smith has ahead of him — carrying the torch and becoming the All-Big Ten or All-American caliber player that Michigan needs to step up in 2022.

“It’s pretty obvious that he’s aware of that,” McNamara said. “Now that there are some guys that we lost off that D-line, and he wants to step up. I think he’s ready for that. I think he’s put himself in that position, and he’s also put himself in that position to lead that group. I have full confidence that he has that ability and that he’ll do that.”

“Every season has to be better than the last,” Smith said. “There can’t be any regression, you know? So for this season, I just want to be the best person I can be, the best player I can be and maybe I can be the best player in the country.” 

And for all those doubting the Michigan defense, Smith says, ‘bring it on.’

“They’ve been saying [the defense is a concern],” Smith said. “They’ve said that forever. The defense always somehow becomes a question mark. So, it’s like, OK. Keep making it a question mark.”