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Kris Jenkins praises contributions of Michigan’s Mazi Smith, ability to ‘terrorize’ opposition
By Eric Woods
Published:
Mazi Smith, a name the casual stats reader probably pays little to no attention to.
His stats on the year certainly have no glamour, and will not catch the eye of many. He currently has 34 tackles, 2.5 TFL and half a sack on the year. However, Smith’s production goes much further than the stat sheet says.
“He’s definitely without a doubt one of the best defensive tackles in the country,” fellow defensive lineman Kris Jenkins said on Monday. “We’re really at this position because he’s able to terrorize offensive linemen and do his thing.”
After losing a wide variety of stars in the front seven from last season, the Michigan defense largely hasn’t skipped a beat, mainly due to Smith’s impact. He is part of a defense that is allowing just 72 rushing yards per game and 160 passing yards. Smith’s ability to clog lanes and shrink pockets has been effective for the Michigan defense.
Asked Kris Jenkins about Mazi Smith, who doesn't have gaudy stats, but his impact on the defense: "He's definitely without a doubt one of the best defensive tackles in the country. We're really at this position because he's able to terrorize offensive linemen and do his thing."
— angelique (@chengelis) November 14, 2022
While Smith is clogging up the interior, other Wolverines are thriving along the defensive front. Jenkins is one of those players with 3.5 TFL and 2 sacks. Mike Morris leads the Wolverines with 11 TFL and 7.5 sacks this season.