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5 Greatest Michigan Football Defensive Players in History

Julian H&period; Gonzalez-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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5 Greatest Michigan Football Defensive Players in History

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Eric W. Bolin | Last updated Jun 28, 2026 6:53 PM ET

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We promise we didn’t do this on purpose. But one of the best things about this list of the five greatest Michigan defenders in history is that each of them played in different decades.

If you’re playing the guessing game at home, that probably makes it a bit tough.

Yes, you know who No. 1 is going to be, which knocks out one of those decades. And if you’re searching for another hint, here’s one: the 2010s are not, really, represented. Well, kind of. You’ll just have see what we mean.

If you’re a Michigan fan, odds are, you have a different list than ours, even if we would have the same guy at the top. That’s the fun of such rankings, though. So enjoy, Wolverines fans.

Honorable Mentions

DB Tom Curtis (1967-1969)
DB Tripp Welborne (1967-1970)
LB Ron Simpkins (1976-1979)
DB Ty Law (1992-1994)
DB Leon Hall (2003-2006)
DL/LB Brandon Graham (2006-2009)
LB/DB Jabrill Peppers (2014-2016)

5. DB Dave Brown (1972-1974)

A College Football Hall of Famer who was named all-Big Ten three times, Brown often goes overlooked when talking about Michigan’s greatest defenders. We want to remedy that.

From 1972 to 1974 as Brown played in the Wolverines’ defensive backfield, Michigan racked up a 30-2-1 record while registering the No. 1 scoring defense in the country twice and the No. 2 scoring defense in the country the other time. Brown earned consensus All-American honors as a junior and followed with a unanimous selection as a senior.

He left Michigan with nine interceptions, 174 tackles, and three punt returns for touchdowns before playing 15 seasons in the NFL.

4. DL/LB LaMarr Woodley (2003-2006)

Ohio State Buckeyes #7 Ted Ginn Jr. tries to stiff arm Michigan Wolverines #56 LaMarr Woodley at Ohio Stadium.Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Woodley was an athletic freak of nature who was capable of playing outside linebacker or defensive end for Lloyd Carr’s Michigan teams of the mid-2000s.

Woodley’s 24 career sacks rank in a tie for fourth in school history and only one player in Michigan history logged more than Woodley’s 12 (picked up in 2006) in a single season.

The Saginaw native was elected into the Michigan Hall of Fame in 2023 after earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors, the Lombardi Award, and the Ted Hendricks Award while with the Wolverines.

3. DL Aidan Hutchinson (2018-2021)

Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson pursues on defense against Ohio State.USA TODAY Sports

Aidan Hutchinson had a lot to live up to as his father, Chris, was Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year when played for the Wolverines. Safe to say, Aidan just about managed to match him, just on the other side of the line.

Over the course of four seasons with the Wolverines, the younger Hutchinson racked up 159 tackles, including 27 1/2 for-loss, and 14 sacks. The numbers would have been higher had he not missed all but three games his junior season. But, man, did he ever come back with a vengeance.

As a senior, Hutchinson collected 14 sacks -- a single-season record -- to earn the Ted Hendricks Award, the Lombardi Award, the Lott Trophy, unanimous All-American selection, and a No. 2 finish for the Heisman Trophy.

2. DL/LB Mark Messner (1985-1988)

Messner wasn’t just a four-year starter at Michigan at defensive tackle. The man started each and every game he played in a Michigan uniform. Impressive enough on its own, consider he also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in every season, too. Incredible.

Messner’s 36 career sacks rank him top of the Michigan list, 6.5 more than the second-place man. He was named third-team All-American as a freshman and sophomore, first-team All-American as a junior, and a unanimous All-American as a senior in 1988.

On top of all that, his defenses out-maneuvered Ohio State three times. He played in only four games in the NFL, leaving his legacy at Michigan one to truly behold.

1. DB Charles Woodson (1995-1997)

There was never any doubt, really. Woodson is the only player in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy while playing primarily on defense. No one has ever put together a season like his in 1997.

And few have put together a three-season career like his, even. Woodson had earned first-team All-Big Ten honors as a freshman and sophomore already, even getting first-team All-American honors in his second year.

But he truly went off as a junior, picking off seven passes while catching them on the other side and returning punts in helping the Wolverines to their first national title since 1948.