Michigan’s up & down 2024 season will officially come to an end when they face Alabama in a Rose Bowl rematch from last season. The match-up in the ReliaQuest Bowl features a much different Wolverines and Crimson Tide team that we saw a year ago. It will be a difficult challenge for Michigan as their most talented players are expected to sit out to stay healthy for the NFL. Alabama’s starting QB Jalen Milroe will suit up and play in the final game of the season.

There will be much more buzz around Michigan next season with the addition of Bryce Underwood. The offense might be gaining some star power, but the defense is losing a lot of talent to the NFL. Mason Graham, Will Johnson, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, and others are expected to go pro. Today, however, Michigan fans got the exciting news that two key defensive lineman are retuning next season.

Derrick Moore

https://twitter.com/JDue51/status/1860682628862517447?s=09

Moore has announced that he will return for his senior year. The powerful EDGE rusher will play his fourth season in Maize & Blue next year. His freshman season was in 2022. He had two tackles for loss and two sacks. Moore played in all 15 games during Michigan’s 2023 championship season. He had 36 tackles, six tackles for loss, and a career high five sacks. This season Moore had 19 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.

The production on the stat sheet isn’t there, but Moore gets pressure on the QB and will be a key member of the defense next season.

TJ Guy

https://twitter.com/JDue51/status/1840392833129234701?s=09

TJ Guy was an underestimated member of Michigan’s defense this season. Guy flew under the radar, but he was quietly productive for the Wolverines. He racked up a career high 5.5 sacks this season in 12 games. He had never had more than one sack in a season before 2024.

This will be Guy’s fifth season wearing Maize & Blue.