Michigan Football continues to rake in the preseason honors and watch list nods, this time on the defensive side of the ball. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is given to the nation's best defensive player, and the Wolverines are represented at all three levels with DT Kris Jenkins, LB Junior Colson, and S Rod Moore.

Kris Jenkins was previously named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. Last season Jenkins was All-Big Ten (honorable mention, 2022). Jenkins was a solid contributor throughout last season but truly shined at the end of the year with multiple stops in all 14 contests last season, including four-plus tackles in four of the final five weeks. He is widely expected to be one of the best defensive tackles in the Big Ten.

Junior Colson led Michigan in tackles with 101 last season. He was an All-Big Ten (second team, coaches; third team, media). In just his junior season, Colson has already appeared in 28 games in his career with 21 starts at linebacker.

Rod Moore burst onto the scene as a freshman in the 2021 season. Like Colson, only a junior but with 25 career games played with 17 starts at safety. Last season Moore led the team with 4 interceptions. Pro Football Focus has named Moore the 3rd best safety returning for the 2023 season.

Michigan's only previous winner of the trophy is Charles Woodson. Alabama's Will Anderson has won the award for the last two seasons.

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