Michigan went from having the No. 1 overall defense in the country to now having the No. 48 overall defense after nine games of play. The Wolverines struggle to get off the field on third downs and also struggle with some basics like possession and positioning. The Wolverines lost players like Junior Colson, Michael Barrett, Mike Sainristil and Josh Wallace along with last season’s team, and it’s clear Michigan is missing some key pieces on defense.

Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale believes in today’s recruiting age and transfer portal, there will be a quick fix for Michigan’s defense in 2025.

“Oh yes. Without a doubt. Without a doubt.”

What gives him this optimism? He says position coaches are not only good coaches but also good recruiters. Michigan will need to attack the 2025 and ’26 seasons aggressively, but will also need to attack the transfer portal. Look at Indiana, for example. The Hoosiers have gone from last place in the Big Ten to one of the best teams in the country under new head coach Curt Cignetti, who has used the portal as much as anyone to fill gaps.

“What gives me confidence is watching the position coaches, as I told you before, I think they are the best in the country, not only at position coaching, but at recruiting,” Martindale said. “We’re going to have to attack as hard as we can this off-season to turn things around, so it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out. I know they’re working their tails off.”

“For all the guys we’ve hired here, I know we’ve got some good guys. I know I’m not allowed to talk about them, I know that much. But it gives me confidence; seeing these guys gives me confidence.” “But now it’s not just the hiring that’s crazy, it’s the money, which adds a whole different dimension to it.”

Some wonder whether the transfer portal outweighs developmental projects that could make an impact in a few years. There have been many players who have made an impact in their junior or senior season after attending the course and learning. Martindale said recruiting talented freshmen is as important as using the portal to meet immediate needs.

“I don’t want to say that,” Martindale said, noting that the portal outweighs recruiting. “I don’t want to say that because we have an opportunity to get some really good freshmen. I just heard Steve (Casula) talking about our opportunity offenses and things like that. We’re still doing that. I think you’re going to the Unknown because it’s going to go up to 105 on the roster and that’s what they’re going to do. “They say they’re going to have the rule, they’re going to say they have the rule, the NCAA, it took a lot longer than my experience the second time around, and I know when I hear a rule, I’m not going to believe it until I see it.”

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