Michigan’s defense is still sorting itself out in fall camp, but Jay Hill likes what he’s seeing so far.
The Wolverines’ defensive coordinator said the group is improving day by day as the opener gets closer, with competition still raging at linebacker and in the secondary. Hill pointed to a linebacker room with five or six players who can help in games, and he called that logjam a good thing.
“I think we’re getting better every day,” Hill said. “That comes from knowledge of the scheme, the culture, the run to the football, the hitting, the tackling.”
He wants some separation soon, especially at linebacker, but he’s not treating the battle as a problem.
“That’s a good problem that we have right now,” Hill said.
Michigan still has jobs open in the back end too, especially for the fifth, sixth and seventh defensive backs. The base look is expected to feature three linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs, which means versatility and depth will matter all season.
One player Hill highlighted as making steady progress is safety Rod Moore. Moore has practiced four straight days, something Hill said hadn’t happened in a long time, and he’s still getting comfortable after missing much of spring while he works back into the defense.
“He’s getting better physically every day,” Hill said.
Hill also said Moore’s experience matters because the safety has already made plenty of plays in Ann Arbor.
“Rod’s made a lot of plays here at the University of Michigan,” Hill said. “If we have him full speed and he has the defense 100%, he makes us better for sure.”
A few other names have stood out during camp as well. Hill mentioned John Henry Daley, Nathaniel Staehling and Smith Snowden as players who have either returned from injury or taken clear steps forward. Shamari Earls Nate Marshall has been one of the more impressive performers over the last several practices, while Mason Curtis and Enow Etta have also put together standout days.
“It seems like every day somebody else really shines,” Hill said. “That’s the sign of a good defense is when you have different guys shining at different times.”
The defensive line has brought its own kind of competition. Hill singled out Marshall again for what he’s done recently, said Dominic Nichols flashed early before missing a few days, and noted that Lugard Edokpayi has shown ability at defensive tackle. Freshmen Tariq Boney and Carter Meadows have also impressed.
“That group is deep right now,” Hill said. “Very talented and deep.”
That depth could shape how Michigan handles the season, because Hill isn’t promising a rigid rotation. If a player earns more snaps, Hill wants to reward it.
“If your third guy that you have perceived as your third guy right now goes in, he’s making all kinds of plays through the first couple games, then he deserves to play more,” Hill said.
For now, the full fall camp package is in place. Hill said everything planned for camp has been installed, and the staff will soon start layering in opponent-specific calls.
“Right now, fall camp-wise, everything’s in,” Hill said.
He’s especially encouraged by the way the first unit has played physically. Hill said he sees a front that can be stout, defensive backs who can cover, and linebackers who are picking up the scheme.
“I see a defensive front that can be stout,” Hill said. “I see DBs that can cover. I see linebackers that have really picked up the scheme.”
The next step, he said, is getting the younger players and the second and third groups up to that level, particularly at linebacker and safety.
Michigan’s goals are high, and Hill didn’t shy away from that. The defense wants to be among the elite units in the Big Ten and the country, and one of the benchmarks is holding opponents under 85 rushing yards per game.
“If you want to be elite within the country in rush defense, that’s where that 85 number comes from,” Hill said.
The Wolverines are also chasing a pass-efficiency mark below 100 and a combined total of seven turnovers and sacks per game. When it comes to takeaways, Hill put it in plain terms.
“We need to win the turnover margin,” Hill said.
As Week 1 gets closer, Hill wants the defense to look fast, physical and hard to handle, while still keeping mistakes from becoming big plays.
“Physical, flying around and fast,” Hill said when asked what he wants the unit to look like in Week 1.
He said he expects players to run to the ball and erase some of the damage when an assignment isn’t perfect.
“I expect us to be out there and physical and dominant and executing,” Hill said.
Hill also stressed that his sideline style is energetic, but his in-game approach is built around preparation. He said about 90% of his adjustments are already mapped out before kickoff, and he prefers to stay grounded when the game starts moving.
“We go into every situation with multiple calls,” Hill said.
“You can’t reinvent the wheel in the heat of the moment,” he said. “You’ve got to stay stuck to the basics.”
Michigan’s three-linebacker setup gives the defense some built-in flexibility, too. Hill said the third linebacker can line up near the line of scrimmage to help set the edge or drop into the box in a more traditional 4-3 alignment.
“Every one of those three backers has a very specific role,” Hill said.
That kind of versatility is part of the blueprint as Hill keeps molding the Wolverines for 2026.
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