As the only returning starter on Michigan’s defense, fifth-year senior linebacker Mike McCray has had to step into a leadership role that doesn’t necessarily come naturally to him.

“I feel like our leadership has grown. For me, I’m working on being more vocal on and off the field,” McCray said. “Everybody can be a leader but people look up to the older guys like me and Mo, fifth year seniors. I think they look at us the most, because we’ve been here so long. We just try to go out there and work hard every day.”

Saturday’s spring game was a chance for McCray to see how the defense has grown throughout the spring practice schedule, especially in his own position group.

“You could see a lot of growth from everybody from day one to now,” McCray said. “Even the early enrollees, learning a new system, starting school.

“It’s exciting, just knowing they learn, they know the system already going into camp in the fall.”

One linebacker whose growth stood out Sunday was sophomore Devin Bush, who has had a year with the team to learn from players like McCray.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth from last spring, he came in early, and Devin is a great player and he should have a great season coming up,” McCray said.

“Mike is always going to be there when I need help, he’s always going to correct me when I’m wrong, Bush said. “He wants me to make the play that no one thinks I can make. We’ll be in meeting rooms and I’ll drop a pick and he’ll turn back and look at me and stare at me like ‘Why didn’t you catch the ball?’”

In the spring game Bush caused all kinds of trouble for the opposing offense, breaking through the middle of the offensive line for two sacks in the first half and making plays all over the field. It was clear that Bush has stepped up to fill the void left by departed linebackers Jabrill Peppers and Ben Gedeon.

“Our stunts (were working), the d-line moving, our timing and communication all clicked and we executed our plan,” Bush said.

Though Bush saw action at linebacker in just seven games last season, including the bowl game against Florida State, things started to click for him just as the season ended.

“Right after the bowl game. I was watching film a lot. Me and Rashan, we talk a lot,” Bush said. “So, I just got comfortable just being in meetings and seeing the things we saw last year, it was all familiar to me. I got comfortable in the meeting rooms.”

The Michigan defense has a lot of work to do to make up for the production they have lost in graduating players. Thankfully for the Wolverine faithful, the combination of experienced players like McCray and eager youth like Bush will help the Michigan defense once again terrorize the Big Ten.