Michigan Wolverines Defense Suffers Crushing Blow Ahead of 2024 Season

Rod Moore has been a solid contributor for the Wolverines since his freshman year in 2021 when he appeared in 11 games. Moore was the team’s Defensive Rookie of the Year as well as the team’s Special Teams Rookie of the Year. He finished his freshman year with 32 tackles and a pass breakup.

Moore became a full-time starter in his sophomore year, which is the year that he earned his first All-Big Ten selection (honorable mention). He led the back end for the Wolverines with 71 tackles. He also led the team with four interceptions on the season.

Moore continued his solid play in 2023 with a third-team All-Big Ten selection. He had 38 tackles and two interceptions on the season. Moore started in 11 games, but his services were not required for the second half of many blowouts, resulting in reduced statistics. He had nine tackles and a pass breakup in the College Football Playoffs.

Moore had one of the most iconic plays of the season when he intercepted Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord to clinch “The Game” for Michigan, forever etching his name in stone as a Wolverines legend.

Rod Moore was one of the few Michigan Wolverines bringing experience into 2024

The Michigan Wolverines sent a record 18 players to the NFL Scouting Combine ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. Rod Moore, who has a mid-first-round draft grade according to NFL Draft Buzz, decided to come back as a key player in the secondary in 2024.

Michigan edge rusher Braiden McGregor explained just how many Michigan players were heading to the NFL in an article from Pro Football Talk.

“It feels like Schembechler Hall around here,” Michigan edge rusher Braiden McGregor said. “Everywhere I’ve looked, you see everybody. It’s awesome. Everybody’s saying, ‘Wow, you guys roll deep,’ so it’s pretty cool.”

Moore was one of the few players with significant starting experience to opt to return and help the Wolverines during what will likely be a transitionary period. Former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who initially recruited Moore, left for the NFL and took a litany of assistants with him.

Among the several coaches that Harbaugh took with him to the Los Angeles Chargers are:

• Wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy
• Defensive backs/passing game coordinator Steve Clinkscale
• Strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert
• Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter
• Defensive line coach Mike Elston

On top of those departures, running backs coach Mike Hart also decided to part ways with the program following the National title run in 2023. Defensive line coach replacement Greg Scruggs recently announced his resignation which came about as a result of an OWI charge.

The Wolverines and new head coach Sherrone Moore will be fielding a team that is drastically different than the one that took home the title in 2023, both on the field and on the sidelines. Players like Moore were essential to the transition Sherrone and the rest of the staff will have to undergo, meaning his absence will be felt throughout the entire program.