Michigan EDGEs Derrick Moore, TJ Guy will be 'fun to watch': Sherrone Moore says 'I feel bad for the offense sometimes'

LAS VEGAS — The backup offensive line for Michigan Wolverines football is going to get better this season — whether they like it or not. That group will face that head coach Sherrone Moore seems to believe is a starter-level crop of defensive linemen each and every day in practice, beginning with fall camp July 30.

Michigan’s defensive line has 10 players that are slated to rotate — six at tackle and four at EDGE.
• Tackles: Graduates Rayshaun Benny, Tré Williams, Damon Payne and Ike Iwunnah, and juniors Trey Pierce and Enow Etta
• EDGEs: Graduate TJ Guy, senior Derrick Moore, junior Cameron Brandt and sophomore Dominic Nichols

Being able to rotate in that many capable defensive linemen has Michigan’s head coach excited, to say the least.

“Ten deep,” Moore said in an excited tone. “I think you got six inside guys and four outside guys, which is crazy.

“It’s like the two O-line is gonna feel like they’re dealing with the one defense. You better buckle up when you go to practice, because it’s deep. You’re gonna be going against Derrick Moore and Rayshaun Benny and Tré Williams and Trey Pierce and TJ Guy. But then, if they’re not starting, you’ve got Cam Brandt and Dom Nichols and Ike Iwunnah and Enow Etta and Damon Payne.”

All of Michigan’s defensive linemen are pushing each other, too, making the competitive waters hot and creating an environment conducive for improvement.

“It’s crazy how many guys,” Moore reiterated. “This is gonna be a group that’s awesome to be a part of and deep and fun to watch. So, super excited, but [also] with how they’ve challenged each other, too, throughout the summer.”

Guy and Derrick Moore make up a duo with experience and ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. Guy posted 5.5 sacks last season, and Moore had 4. While the latter’s number seems lower than expected, he was tied atop the team with 37 pressures and had 5 sacks as a backup in 2023. He can be a menace for quarterbacks.

“As good as any in the country,” Sherrone Moore said of Michigan’s starting EDGE tandem. “I feel bad for the offense sometimes when they’re going against Derrick and TJ.”

The reality is, Michigan has had tremendous EDGE talent in recent years. The Wolverines have had 12 edge rushers selected in the NFL Draft since 2017, with Josaiah Stewart — No. 90 to the Los Angeles Rams this year — being the most recent.

“Every year, you go against the Michigan edge rushers, and it feels like every year there’s a guy that pops out,” Moore said. “It was Josaiah Stewart last year. Before that, you had Braiden McGregor and Jaylen Harrell — people forget about them. And then you had [David] Ojabo and [Aidan] Hutch[inson]. Every year.

“It’s gonna be TJ and Derrick, but then you have Cam and Dom Nichols. It’s gonna be fun to have that. I’m glad they’re on our team.

“It’s a fun duo. It’s gonna be hard to stop those guys.”

Sherrone Moore lauds Michigan staff continuity, cohesion

Moore made one primary coaching staff hire this offseason — replacing Kirk Campbell with Chip Lindsey as offensive coordinator. That was a big move, but the only one among the 10 assistant coaches, with the nine others all remaining in place.

From a defensive standpoint, all five assistants are still on the staff, led by coordinator Wink Martindale. Moore was asked if that continuity is “underrated.”

“Not underrated. Just excited about having everybody there,” the Michigan coach replied. “The continuity is awesome, just having everybody back.

“Wink is having the time of his life, which is awesome to see when guys have fun. He’s mentioned that to me a couple times, how much fun he has around our players and how much they inspire him. For a guy that’s done it for so long to say that about college athletes and about college coaches is really cool.

“It’s just great to have all our staff back. Obviously, adding Chip … he adds a cool element, even though we make fun of him for his accent a little bit sometimes, but he’s phenomenal and a phenomenal addition.”

Moore has been impressed with how the Michigan coaches enjoy each other’s company and collaborate, too.

“There’s such cohesion in the staff,” he noted. “Everybody gets along, everybody hangs out with each other, everybody sits together.

“You go to practice, and Chip and Wink are talking to each other. That doesn’t happen all the time. When that happens, it provides a specialness for the program.”