Michigan is counting on Trey Pierce to be more than just a steady presence in 2026. He’s stepping into the top 10 of the Wolverines’ most important players list, and the reasons are pretty clear: he’s been durable, productive, and now he’s one of the last big bodies left to anchor the middle.
Pierce is heading into his fourth season in Ann Arbor, and his track record already says plenty about why he matters. He has appeared in 39 games since arriving, with 13 games played in each of his three seasons. Last year, the 6-foot-2, 310-pound defensive tackle was in the starting lineup every week for Wink Martindale’s defense.
The production followed. In 2025, Pierce finished with 30 tackles and one tackle for loss, enough to earn Big Ten Honorable Mention.
He also gave Michigan real value against the run. Pro Football Focus graded him at 80.5 in run defense, the fourth-best mark on the team and just behind Rayshaun Benny’s 84.5.
Pierce added 20 run stops, which also ranked fourth on the roster.
There’s more there as a pass rusher than the raw sack total suggests. Pierce never got home for a sack, but he did log eight quarterback hurries last season, tied for eighth on the team. That kind of interior pressure matters, even when it doesn’t show up in the sack column.
Now the workload is set to grow. Michigan lost Rayshaun Benny, Tre Williams, and Damon Payne, so Pierce is going to be leaned on even more in 2026. He’s already a starter, and the Wolverines are expected to pair him with Enow Etta and Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea as their main three defensive tackles.
That trio fits what Jay Hill wants to do. His defense is built around an attacking style, and the tackles will be asked to hold up against the run.
For Michigan, that means Pierce’s job starts with eating space and shutting down lanes. He and Etta bring the size to handle that, while Lea'ea gives the group a different look with his speed and ability to get home.
Pierce was also a major retention piece for Kyle Whittingham once he took over as the head coach, and Michigan is banking on that decision paying off.
One number stands out above the rest: in three seasons, Pierce has only one tackle for loss, and it came last year. That should change in 2026. With his strength and ability to drive the center backward, he looks positioned to make more plays behind the line.
The expectation is simple. Pierce should be a bigger factor in the backfield this fall, and with his size and power, he has the tools to clog gaps and finish with at least five tackles for loss.
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