After every football season, Pro Football Focus comes out with their top 101 players from the season. After winning the national championship, there are obviously several Michigan football players on the list. The Wolverines went a perfect 12-0 in the regular season, defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game, beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and then dominated Washington for all the marbles.
The 2023 Michigan Wolverines will go down as one of the greatest rosters and seasons in Michigan history. The Wolverines had veteran leadership, and when the tide could’ve turned — amidst the NCAA and Jim Harbaugh controversy — Michigan only got stronger.
While there are some omissions in PFF’s top 101, I found it interesting to go through and see which Wolverines really got highlighted from their magical season. Spoiler alert: there is no Roman Wilson, Zak Zinter, or Junior Colson.
Here are the Michigan players that are on the list.
No. 91 — DL Kris Jenkins:
Jenkins paired with Mason Graham to wreak havoc on opposing offenses in 2023 and briefly into 2024. While Graham was a menace rushing the passer, Jenkins made his mark in the run game, posting an excellent 82.3 run-defense grade for the season. Two of his best games were in the College Football Playoff against Alabama and Washington.
No. 90 — C Drake Nugent
Nugent ended the season as the most valuable center in college football, according to PFF’s Wins Above Average metric. The Stanford transfer was one of only six Power Five centers to earn 75.0-plus grades in both pass protection and run blocking.
No. 87 — CB Josh Wallace
The third of Michigan’s triumvirate of excellent cornerbacks, Wallace didn’t record an interception this season, but he also had only one game where he allowed more than 30 yards in coverage. From Week 10 onward, Wallace led the Wolverines with an 80.6 coverage grade.
No. 76 — LB Michael Barrett
Barrett was the unsung hero of Michigan’s defense this past season. His 84.3 grade was a top-10 mark among Power Five linebackers, while his 92.3 pass-rushing grade ranked second in the nation at his position. He also posted a strong 23.2% pass-rush win rate, placing fifth among FBS linebackers.
No. 72 — CB Mike Sainristil
Sainristil constantly made plays for Michigan during its national championship run. His six interceptions were the second most among college football cornerbacks, and his 76.6 coverage grade at slot cornerback was a top-10 mark in the nation.
No. 55 — CB Will Johnson
Johnson was excellent for the Wolverines, allowing just 17 catches and a 29.1 passer rating into his coverage across 12 games. He also hauled in four interceptions, including a massive one against Ohio State. Johnson is college football’s top returning cornerback in 2024.
No. 45 — RB Blake Corum
Corum wasn’t as efficient in 2023 as he was in 2022, but he still managed 1,245 rushing yards and an FBS-leading 27 rushing touchdowns. His incredible run in overtime against Alabama will live in Michigan lore. He overcame a torn ACL and some offensive line struggles and continued to be the engine of the Wolverines’ offense.
No. 37 — QB J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy was a consistent performer this year outside of a tough game at Maryland. His 90.8 overall grade ranked 10th in the country, and his 80% adjusted completion percentage placed fourth. He didn’t throw at a high volume, but he was efficient and played clean football, tossing just one interception after Week 3.
No. 18 — DL Mason Graham
Graham was simply unblockable in the two biggest games of the season. Against Alabama and Washington in the College Football Playoff, the sophomore posted an 85.1 overall grade and a 91.0 run-defense grade. His 90.0 overall grade on the season ranked fourth among college football interior defenders. He enters next season as arguably the best defensive tackle in college football.
