Michigan’s defensive line was arguably the best in the country last year, and several opposing players in the conference echoed that sentiment at Big Ten media days on Monday.
The Wolverines saw three of their linemen from 2016 – Ryan Glasgow, Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley – taken in this year’s NFL draft, and Illinois fifth-year senior offensive tacke Christian DiLauro had especially high praise for the latter two.
“They were big guys,” DiLauro said. “They had Taco and Wormley, and Wormley was one of the biggest dudes I had to go against, especially for someone in a d-end body. They were big and physical brute guys.”
DiLauro was also very impressed with a young Wolverine lineman.
“I was really impressed with the freshman d-end they had who came in late in the game [Rashan Gary]. He kind of showed me something that I wasn’t expecting, especially since there wasn’t much film on him. I had game planned for Wormley and Taco, and then they brought this freshman in late, and he gave me a little bit of a roll there for a second.
“Overall, I’d definitely say it was the best d-line we faced.”
Iowa fifth-year senior offensive lineman Sean Welsh had similar praise, but he mentioned yet another Wolverine lineman that stood out to him.
“[Mo] Hurst was very good,” Welsh said. “I thought all their guys were pretty good to be honest though. They were all just so talented. They played so low, quick and physical.”
Although Welsh didn’t definitively say Michigan was the best defensive line he faced last year like DiLauro did, he made it clear they were as good as any.
“They were right up there with anybody,” Welsh explained. “I don’t know if they were the best, but again they were right there.”
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