Derrick Moore seizing opportunity to lead Michigan’s defensive line

The edge rusher is approaching his senior season with high expectations, and will be anchoring a defensive line that appears to be one of the Big Ten’s best this fall.

Derrick Moore has played alongside the likes of Josiah Stewart, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Jaylen Harrell, Kris Jenkins Mike Morris and Mazi Smith, who were all former Wolverine defensive linemen and NFL Draft picks over the past three years. So he understands the standard his predecessors set, and ready to carry the torch.

Moore is due for an All-Big Ten campaign, after racking up 57 tackles, including 12 for loss and nine sacks over the past two seasons. He intends on wreaking havoc off the edge again with his versatility, and is eager to make quarterbacks eat grass.

“I wasn’t able to go inside my bag last season, but I can’t wait to go inside my bag and pull out a lot of different moves and show everybody what I got, because a lot of people think I’m just a power rusher,” Moore said. “If I’m able to dive deep into that bag, I’m able to show everybody what I’m capable of doing.”

The Wolverines were a liability on offense in 2024, especially their aerial attack, and the defense often times had to carry the team to the finish line. Michigan’s glaring weakness was at the quarterback position, and Coach Sherrone Moore played musical chairs with three different signal-callers. In return it put more pressure on Moore and the rest of the defense.

“It was a stressful at times, but I feel like we can’t point any fingers at anybody on the offensive side, or at ourselves,” he said. “As a team we all gotta stay together, and last year as a defense we tried to do our best job to get the offense the ball back.”

Michigan has the golden boy this time around though, with former five-star prospect Bryce Underwood. The true freshman is going to be the answer to all of the Wolverines’ offensive issues in Moore’s mind, following a strong spring and a promising fall camp. The last thing Moore wants is for Underwood to receive the shoulder of the blame if the team struggles again.

Which is why he expects the gunslinger to embrace what comes with the territory. Although Underwood is ready to win, Moore believes it is defeat that he must prepare for.

“I feel like Bryce will do a good job of handling the negative and positive comments that are going to come his way,” the 22-year old said. “The bigger challenge for Bryce is at some point in time this season he’s going to face adversity, and that adversity is going to show some type of growth in him.”

The defense is going to be a great supporting cast for Underwood, and the Wolverines should be able to thrive in the trenches. TJ Guy will be on the opposite edge of Moore, and he’s just as lethal with his pursuit. It’s hard to argue with that when Guy tallied 32 stops, including seven for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2024. Despite the loss of two first-rounders along the interior, Michigan should continue being dominant against the run, and field another top-10 defense.

At the end of the day, Coach Moore values what the 6-foot-3, 256-pounder brings to the defense, considering his leadership, experience and production.

“He’s been an impact player since the day he stepped on campus,” Coach Moore said. “Continues to be a leader on and off the field.”

With fall camp coming to an end soon, Moore is confident the defensive line is making strides, and he’s in the best shape of his life. He’ll continue to mold his game after NFL stars like Myles Garrett, Max Crosby, Chase Young and Aidan Hutchinson, with intentions on becoming a household name by December.

“My goal is really just going out and being the player that I know I am, going out there and setting the standard for the team, making sure we win every game, win the big games and the ones that matter for sure.”