Michigan’s defense gave the Wolverines exactly what they needed against UTEP: a steady, physical performance that let the offense settle in and pile up points.
UTEP did strike first, and Michigan allowed 14 first-half points before tightening the screws for most of the afternoon. A late field goal pushed the Miners to 17, but beyond that, Jay Hill’s group was firm against both the run and the pass.
The box score tells part of the story, but Pro Football Focus opens a different window into how the game played out snap by snap. It’s not the whole truth, but it can surface the kind of work that doesn’t always jump off the stat sheet.
The top defensive grades reflected a big day for Michigan’s interior front.
DT Jonah Lea'ea finished as the highest-graded defender at 92.0. A pick six from a defensive tackle usually goes a long way in the grading department, and Lea'ea backed it up with strong work against the run and as a tackler. He only had one stop, but his late interception return for a touchdown stood out as one of the game’s best moments.
Edge Tariq Boney came in next at 82.6. The true freshman has been showing flashes in limited action all season, and he kept that going against UTEP.
Boney played just 16 snaps, yet still managed four tackles, including 1.5 for loss and a sack. He also helped force the throw that ended up in Lea'ea’s hands for the pick six.
With Michigan’s depth at edge, that kind of production may be part of why he hasn’t seen even more time.
DT Enow Etta rounded out the top three at 78.9. Earlier in the week, the media spoke with Etta, and he sounded locked in and ready to go.
He delivered on that, turning in a strong effort against the run and finishing with three tackles, one for loss and a sack. Michigan’s defensive coaches have been praising him all fall camp and into the season for his versatility as an interior pass rusher.
The snap counts told another important part of the story. UTEP ran only 49 offensive plays, and Michigan controlled the game enough that plenty of defenders saw meaningful work.
Only five players reached 25 snaps, and four of them were starters. Shamari Earls, Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden and Troy Bowls all cleared that mark, along with reserve safety Jordan Young.
Earls led the defense with 34 snaps and was listed as a starter after Zeke Berry did not play.
In Other News...
Michigans Next Road Test Just Got More Serious For Wolverines Fans
Michigans trip to Minnesota on Oct. 3 now has a clearer stage, with the Big Ten matchup set for noon ET on FOX. It will be the Wolverines second game this season in the Big Noon Kickoff window, giving fans another early start to a road test that should draw plenty of national attention.
The timing adds another layer to a series that has long carried its own weight, especially with Michigan heading into a conference road environment that has not always been easy. With both programs bringing recent results and history into the conversation, this one already feels like more than a routine October date on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Backfield Debate Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Savion Hiter keeps making the Michigan backfield discussion harder to settle. In the Wolverines 52-17 win over UTEP, the freshman turned 11 carries into 62 yards and two touchdowns, giving the offense another burst of energy while sharing work with Jordan Marshall, who remains the heavier-duty option in the rotation.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham praised Hiters running style and upside, and the comments only add to the sense that his role could keep growing if the opportunities follow. For now, Michigan has a useful one-two punch, but Hiters performance suggested the balance of carries may be worth watching closely in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans UTEP Win Exposed One Concern And One Rising Battle
Michigans win over UTEP offered the kind of second-half finish the Wolverines wanted, with the offense and defense tightening up after a sluggish stretch early on. The 35-3 edge after halftime also gave a clearer look at some of the younger players the staff has been eager to develop, with Tariq Boney and Savion Hiter among the underclassmen who flashed enough to stand out.
The more immediate takeaway, though, was less comfortable. Turnovers and penalties helped keep UTEP in the game longer than Michigan would have preferred, a reminder that the margin for error gets much thinner once conference play arrives. For a staff that has leaned on developmental growth from its younger talent, the challenge now is balancing that progress with cleaner football when the Wolverines start facing opponents that will punish those mistakes. [Read more 🡒]