Wormley, Godin make move to defensive tackle

Redshirt sophomore Chris Wormley is getting a new home (though it's not entirely unknown to him) while classmate Matthew Godin is returning to a home he knows well. Both are on the move from strongside end to the 3-tech defensive tackle position.

"I've always liked playing inside more because when I was in high school I played defensive tackle. It's more physical in there and I love it," said Godin, who beamed as he described his new role for the Wolverines.

The 6-6, 283-pounder certainly gave his best effort competing at strongside end last year, but in six games, making three tackles, he didn't have a mismatch because he lacked the speed needed to be a force off the edge. Inside, he's quicker than most tackles and retains the size and strength to overpower guards and centers.

Wormley maybe possessed a little more burst than Godin, recording 2.5 sacks among 17 tackles during his 13 appearances defensively, and he could slide back and forth between the two spots, but at defensive tackle that athleticism would be a definitive plus.

"I am comfortable playing either position," the Toledo native said. "Whatever Coach Mattison wants on the field, that is what I will do.

"On the outside, there is more of a responsibility to keep contain, and on the inside, you're more of a free-range player. I like that a little more."

Wormley stands in at an impressive 6-4, 292 pounds, and says he's actually at 295, up six pounds from last year. He'll be plenty big enough to handle the interior linemen and occupy blockers to free Michigan's linebackers.

The redshirt sophomore also expects to be at his best now that he's more than 18 months removed from the ACL injury that sidelined him for all of the 2012 season.

"Probably for the first four or five weeks last season, I was wearing a knee brace, and I was thinking about it every game," he said. "After a while, I took it off and there have not been too many problems or holding back at all. After practice, it might be a little sore, but other than that is just a normal knee."