TAMPA, Fla. — There's not a team in the nation that will need to replace as much talent from its defensive front as Michigan football going from 2024 into 2025.

The Wolverines not only lose unanimous All-American Mason Graham and fellow projected first-rounder Kenneth Grant , but also second team All Big Ten senior edge Josaiah Stewart has also declared for the 2025 NFL draft. The trio combined for 1,608 snaps, 110 tackles, 26½ for loss, 15 sacks, eight passes deflected, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two fumble recoveries.

The lone starter returning from the unit will be rising senior edge Derrick Moore, who explained Saturday before Michigan's ReliaQuest bowl practice at Jesuit High School, why he opted for another season in Ann Arbor.

"A lot of things," Moore began. "I felt like this season right here — I don't want to say a fluke or anything like that — I want to say it was a lesson. A lot of people were stepping up into new roles, from coaches to players and other staff members. Going into next season, we just know what we gotta do to get back to where we were last year. That's one of the things we talked about.

"I just want to get back to where Michigan used to be. When I got here, Michigan wasn't a talked-down (upon) program. We were the talk of college football. So I want to get Michigan back to where we were."

Moore, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound product out of Baltimore (St. Frances Academy) racked up 19 tackles which included four for loss, two sacks and two batted passes. Per Pro Football Focus, he finished among the best Big Ten edge rushers in rush win rate (fourth) and pressures (10th).

Moore (30 pressures) finished behind only Stewart (35) and Graham (34) on the Wolverines. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale frequently said this season that when there was a sack, though Moore didn't often get credit for it in the stat sheet, he did in the film room.

Moore also battled an ailment much of the season, according to his coordinator.

"Derrick was banged up, so I think he will have another gear (next year) just as anybody that gets a year older, another year of experience,” Martindale said. “He had a lot of ‘almost’ sacks this year where he slid off a guy, or what he did was free up Josaiah or whoever it was to get to the quarterback. He’s a very selfless player. And I think both he and Cam (Brandt) are going to be fun to watch. They’re going to be there.”

The Wolverines also are expected to return edge TJ Guy, who had 29 tackles, seven for loss, 5½ sacks as well as Brandt, who had 13 pressures and two sacks in his first year in the rotation.

Moore was ranked the No. 23 edge and No. 166 overall prospect on PFF's 2025 NFL draft big board.