'He's a Guy': Lugard Edokpayi Hypes Up Surprising Michigan D-Lineman As Spring Standout

Timothy Arrick/For the Livingston Daily / USA TODAY NETWORK

'He's a Guy': Lugard Edokpayi Hypes Up Surprising Michigan D-Lineman As Spring Standout

Originally posted on Michigan Wolverines on SI
By Trent Knoop | Last updated May 19, 2026 8:00 AM ET

Heading into spring ball, there were a few areas of concern on Michigan's defense. We knew the secondary was going to be good with the additions of Smith Snowden and Chris Bracy to go along with returning starters Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry — hopefully a healthy Rod Moore.

But the linebacker position appeared to be thin and there wasn't much known about the depth along the defensive line. However, after the spring game, head coach Kyle Whittingham said, once again, that the defensive line was going to be a strength for the Wolverines this season and said he was happy with the depth.

And there might be another player emerging as depth.

Appearing on 'The Team' with Chase Herbstreit, presented by Champ Media, edge rusher Lugard Edokpayi said defensive lineman Bobby Kanka is someone who has come on strong and mentioned his spring game performance.

Timothy Arrick/For the Livingston Daily / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"I'd say there's a lot of guys — just that are eye-openers or just standing out this spring, for sure," said Edokpayi. "Just a lot of incoming freshmen, you know. I'd say everybody in my class and, like, the class below me, there's high expectations all around. So it's kind of hard to just say some certain names I could give out.

"But, I mean, in terms of the spring game, just guys, like, making plays. I'd shout out Bobby Kanka. He had a great standout game, and that goal line stop was — It was impressive. Yeah, so he's a guy."

How does Kanka fit in?

The Howell (Michigan) native took a redshirt season last year and will enter Year 2 in Ann Arbor as a redshirt freshman. He stands at 6'4", 305-pounds and hopes to find a path at playing time.

But the Wolverines have several young defensive linemen looking to make a mark in 2026. Enow Etta, Trey Pierce, and Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea are going to be the top three interior linemen. Then both Travis Moten and Deyvid Palepale are expected to be the No. 4 and No. 5 guys on the line.

Kanka has a chance to slide in right behind those two, or even work his way up. It's a very raw group, and a group that doesn't have much experience. Add in incoming freshmen Titan Davis and Alister Vallejo, and you have a bag full of four-star prospects, but who is going to work to emerge?

Michigan will come back on June 1 for summer conditioning and we will start finding out which players have really elevated their game.

This article first appeared on Michigan Wolverines on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: