Selecting the best player to wear each jersey number at Michigan means going through 140 years of history, from the days of Benny Friedman and Tom Harmon to modern stars such as Charles Woodson and Jourdan Lewis. Some of the toughest calls were the players we had to leave out: All-Americans, NFL stars or college football pioneers who happened to wear the same number as another Michigan great. Some choices were more obscure than others, but everyone on this list contributed to Michigan’s football legacy in some way.

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Comparing players across different eras is a tricky task, but we tried to find a balance between great players of yesteryear and familiar names of the recent past. We gave the heaviest weight to players’ achievements at Michigan, though in the case of some well-known stars, NFL success also factored in. This is a subjective exercise, so we welcome your thoughts and opinions.

Here’s the full list.

1: Anthony Carter, WR

Michigan football has a special relationship with the No. 1 jersey. Harry Kipke did wear it in 1923. But this is Anthony Carter’s number and legacy. Without Carter’s presence as a transformative talent and one of the greatest college receivers of all-time, Michigan’s No. 1 might be just another number. 

2: Charles Woodson, DB

No debate here. Woodson, The Athletic’s choice as the best college football player to wear the No. 2, belongs on the Mount Rushmore of Michigan football. Winning the Heisman Trophy as a defensive back puts Woodson in a class by himself, and being part of the Wolverines’ 1997 national title team solidifies his place in history.

3: Tripp Welborne, DB

Well, we made it to No. 3 before having to make a ridiculously tough call. John Maulbetsch is a College Football Hall of Famer from the early 1900s. But Welborne was ahead of his time. And if it weren’t for a devastating leg injury late in his third season, the two-time All-American might be a household name in football.

4: Jim Harbaugh, QB

If you separate his accomplishments as a coach and an NFL quarterback, Harbaugh’s college player career still stands on its own merits. He ranks No. 7 at Michigan in career passing yards and led the Wolverines to a Rose Bowl appearance and a victory in the Fiesta Bowl. He was 25-5-1 as a starter and 2-0 against Ohio State.

5: Gordon Bell, RB

Bell was Michigan’s counter to Archie Griffin. And in 1975, his 134.1 yards per game in Big Ten play was higher than Griffin’s 123.7. The Michigan running back finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting that year. One of the most productive and steady runners in Michigan history. 

6: Tyrone Wheatley, RB

After a legendary high school career at Dearborn Heights Robichaud, Wheatley signed with the Wolverines and went on to become one of the best running backs of his era. He was named Big Ten player of the year and Rose Bowl MVP as a sophomore and finished his career with 4,178 rushing yards, which ranks fifth on Michigan’s career list.

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7: Rick Leach, QB

Chad Henne has a gripe, but Rick Leach won 38 games as a starter in the 1970s as a dual-threat passer and the perfect fit in Bo Schembechler’s Michigan system. He beat Ohio State three times, and finished third in Heisman voting as a senior. A legit two-sport star. 

8: Jason Avant, WR

Avant ranks fourth on Michigan’s career receiving chart with 169 receptions, despite sharing the spotlight with Braylon Edwards during his first three seasons at Michigan. He had 82 catches for 1,007 yards as a senior and went on to play a decade in the NFL.

9: Dennis Franklin, QB

Like Leach, he played in an era when he wasn’t asked to throw it as much as players are today. But he still handled the ball a ton as an option QB for three years, from 1972-74. And he just never lost. QB wins aren’t everything, but he was 30-2-1 as a starter. Dependable, reliable, successful.

10: Tom Brady, QB

If we’re basing this strictly on collegiate accomplishments, the choice isn’t as clear-cut as it appears. Todd Collins ranks higher than Brady in career passing numbers, Devin Bush was a first-team All-American and a top-10 pick, and Jeremy Gallon ranks near the top of almost every statistical category as a receiver. But, when in doubt, we’ll go with the guy with six Super Bowl rings.

11: Alvin Wistert, OL

The Wistert brothers (Al, Alvin, Francis) are honored with Michigan’s retired No. 11 jersey. Alvin was a key member of the 1947 Mad Magicians squad that famously destroyed everyone. All three are deserving, but Alvin gets the nod. 

12: Roy Roundtree, WR

Roundtree ranks seventh in Michigan history in both receptions (154) and receiving yards (2,304). He also made one of the iconic plays in Michigan history, hauling in a touchdown pass from Denard Robinson in the final seconds of the Wolverines’ victory against Notre Dame in 2011.

13: Garland Rivers, DB

A defensive back who tackled everything (Rivers had 17 tackles in Michigan’s bowl loss to pass-happy BYU in 1984), Rivers earned consensus All-America honors in 1986 as a defensive back who was comfortable against the run and the pass.

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14: Brian Griese, QB

Griese came to Michigan as a walk-on and departed as a champion. His passing numbers weren’t gaudy, but he’ll be forever known as the quarterback who led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and a national championship in 1997. Going 3-0 against Ohio State doesn’t hurt his legacy, either.

15: Elvis Grbac, QB

Steve Breaston fans might argue, but Grbac reset the standard for QB production at Michigan in the early ’90s as one of the more efficient passers the program’s ever had. Everyone remembers Desmond Howard’s fourth-down TD grab vs. Notre Dame in 1991, but Grbac went 20 of 22 in that game. In 1991. That’s insane. 

16: Denard Robinson, QB

Simply put, one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in college football history. Robinson’s 2010 season, in which he became the first player in NCAA history to top 1,500 yards rushing and passing, will stand the test of time, even if Robinson didn’t experience the team success enjoyed by other Michigan greats.

17: Larry Foote, LB

Ted Petoskey was a three-sport star in the 1930s and Dwight Hicks went on to be a critical member of Bill Walsh’s 49ers dynasty, but we went with Foote because Larry Foote was always impossible to ignore. An outstanding rush linebacker known for his TFLs, Foote is also in the top 20 on Michigan’s all-time pass breakups list. 

18: Amani Toomer, WR

Toomer ranks fourth in school history with 2,657 receiving yards, despite not being considered a starter until his senior year. He broke Michigan’s single-season record for receiving yards in 1994 and went on to win a Super Bowl with the Giants during a 14-year NFL career.

19: Robert Brown, OL

Brown was a captain and center for Fielding Yost’s 1925 co-national title team, a group that outscored opponents 227-3 (and lost a game 3-2 in the mud at Northwestern). Yost called it the best team he’s ever had. He would become a Michigan regent later in life. 

20: Mike Hart, RB

Michigan’s all-time leading rusher finished his career with 5,040 yards, which ranks seventh in Big Ten history. Hart topped 1,300 rushing yards in three of his four seasons at Michigan and had 28 100-yard games in his career.

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21: Desmond Howard, WR

One of the greatest kick/punt returners in the history of the sport, Howard’s 1991 Heisman season still holds up as one giant highlight reel. He caught 19 touchdown passes, in 1991, at 5-feet-10. That’s still a Michigan record. Imagine a player like Howard in today’s college game. It’d be must-see TV, just like it was back then. 

22: Ty Law, DB

Law, one of eight Michigan players selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was a first-team All-American in 1994, his final season in Ann Arbor. After being selected by the Patriots in the first round of the 1995 draft, he went on to win three Super Bowls, make five Pro Bowls and establish himself as one of the best defensive players of his era. 

23: Jamie Morris, RB

Chris Perry has an argument, but Morris is the pick. Not only because he’s still third on the school’s all-time rushing list, but also because he did so much. A great kick returner and pass catcher out of the backfield, Morris’ best games were at Ohio State and vs. Alabama in a bowl game. Big-time player.

24: Butch Woolfolk, RB

First-team All-American. Rose Bowl MVP. Big Ten rushing champ. Woolfolk, who’s sixth on Michigan’s career rushing list, pretty much did it all at Michigan from 1978-81. He also set a single-game NFL record (later broken by Jamie Morris) with 43 carries for the Giants in 1983. 

25: Tom Curtis, DB

A College Football Hall of Famer who picked off 10 passes in 1968 (!) before intercepting eight more the following season, including two against Ohio State in what most would call the greatest regular-season win Michigan’s ever had. The only Michigan player with more career picks than Charles Woodson.

26: Jourdan Lewis, DB

Lewis was a two-time All-American who set a school record for passes defended in 2015. After being drafted in the third round by the Cowboys, Lewis emerged as a full-time starter in 2019 and had the best season of his NFL career.

27: Benny Friedman, QB

Friedman to Oosterbaan (Benny to Bennie) became legendary. Friedman once threw two touchdowns and kicked five extra points in a thrashing of Navy — and would later go on to serve in the Navy during World War II.

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28: Robert Timberlake, QB

Timberlake was Michigan’s quarterback in 1964 when the Wolverines went 9-1, won the Big Ten for the first time in 14 years and defeated Oregon State in the Rose Bowl. Timberlake threw a touchdown pass and kicked a field goal to account for all 10 points in a 10-0 shutout of Ohio State and earned first-team All-America honors after the season.

29: Leon Hall, CB

Marcus Ray was a standout on Michigan’s 1997 national title team, but Hall goes toward the top of any list detailing consistent, dynamic U-M defensive backs. He trails only Jourdan Lewis on Michigan’s career PBU list, he’s tied for fourth in interceptions, he has a punt return TD and he played more than a decade in the NFL.

30: Brad Cochran, DB

After a rocky start to his Michigan career, Cochran became a standout at cornerback for Bo Schembechler’s Wolverines. Cochran was a three-year starter and co-captain of Michigan’s 1985 team that finished 10-1-1 with a victory against Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl. 

31: Ed Shuttlesworth, FB

All respect to Herman Everhardus of the Gerald Ford era, but we’ll go with Michigan’s hammer of a fullback from the 1970s. Shuttlesworth was Michigan’s leading rusher in 1972 and 1973, the latter season being the only unbeaten year of Schembechler’s career. He also had one helluva tackle for a safety in the 1972 Rose Bowl. 

32: Anthony Thomas, RB

“A-Train” left Michigan in 2000 as the school’s career rushing leader and now ranks third on the list behind Hart and Robinson. He rushed for 1,733 yards as a senior, the No. 2 single-season mark in school history, and scored 55 rushing touchdowns in his career. 

33: Leroy Hoard, RB

If you’ve never seen Hoard run, stop now and look him up. A lot of business decisions were made by Big Ten defensive backs and linebackers during Hoard’s time, as he still ranks in the top 10 on Michigan’s all-time yards per carry list. Also, during the 1999 NFL season, Hoard converted a first down on a third-and-37 draw play. 

34: Justin Fargas, RB

Fargas, who rushed for 362 yards in three years at Michigan, didn’t really blossom until he left Ann Arbor. After transferring to USC for his senior season, Fargas was drafted in the third round by the Raiders and ran for more than 3,300 yards in the NFL. 

35: Thom Darden, DB

A do-it-all safety from the early Schembechler years, Darden essentially took the torch from Curtis. He ranks second on the school’s all-time list in interception return yards and finished his college career with 11 picks — including an incredible interception against Ohio State in 1971 that sent Woody Hayes into an all-time great sideline tirade. 

36: Steve Morrison, LB

Morrison was a fixture at inside linebacker in the early 1990s and ranks in Michigan’s top 10 for career tackles. He became a starter as a freshman and ended his career a five-time letter-winner and an All-Big Ten selection.

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37: Erick Anderson, LB

We’ve found the toughest spot on this list: picking between Anderson and Jarrett Irons. Nearly impossible. Both are two of the greatest run-fitting inside linebackers Michigan’s ever had. Anderson won the Butkus, at least a share of four Big Ten titles and went 4-0 against Ohio State. 

38: Garrett Rivas, K

Rivas made 64 field goals from 2003-06 to break Remy Hamilton’s school record by one. He finished his career as the Wolverines’ all-time leading scorer and ranks second in school history in field-goal accuracy at 78 percent. 

39: Henry Hill, DL

How many 200-pound nose tackles do you know capable of running a 4.6-second 40? What? Exactly. Hill’s about as unique as it gets, but his quickness off the snap was a huge factor for Schembechler’s early defenses. A walk-on who wound up as an All-American.

40: Ron Simpkins, LB

Simpkins ranks No. 1 in Michigan history with 516 career tackles. He led the Wolverines in tackles three consecutive years from 1977-79 and was a first-team All-American as a senior. Simpkins was drafted by the Bengals and spent eight years in the NFL.

41: Rob Lytle, RB

Jim Harbaugh often describes Lytle as a back whose running style was akin to “an arrow going through snow.” A College Football Hall of Famer who averaged nearly 6 yards per attempt for his career, which is still one of the best numbers in program history. One of the best to ever do it.

42: Billy Taylor, RB

At 5-feet-11 and 195 pounds, Taylor was a bruising runner who ranks ninth on Michigan’s career rushing list with 3,072 yards. Playing behind a stellar offensive line, he ran for 1,297 yards and was Michigan’s team MVP in 1971.

43: Jim Pace, RB

A legit burner who played in the ’50s (he was reportedly clocked at 9.6 in the 100-yard dash in high school), Pace wound up as the Big Ten’s Silver Football winner in 1957 after being a factor on the ground, through the air and via punt return. 

44: Chuck Heater, RB

Heater played running back for the Wolverines from 1972-74 and ranked among the school’s top five in career rushing yards at the time he graduated. The Wolverines were 30-2-1 during his three seasons with the varsity squad. 

45: David Harris, LB

The back half of Harris’ Michigan career was outstanding, to a point where one wonders where he’d be remembered in U-M lore if he hadn’t suffered an injury early in his run. He was an anchor on Michigan’s 2006 defense that started the year 11-0, finishing with 191 tackles over his last two years. 

46: Lawrence Ricks, RB

Ricks split time with Butch Woolfolk at running back through most of his career before his breakout season in 1982. Ricks ran for 1,388 yards that season and was a first-team All-Big Ten running back. 

47: Bennie Oosterbaan, WR/DE

Simply one of the most accomplished athletes in Michigan history, Oosterbaan was a three-time All-American in football, a two-time All-American on the basketball court and a one-time Big Ten batting champion in baseball.

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48: Gerald Ford, C/LB

The future 38th president of the United States was part of two national championship teams at Michigan in 1932 and 1933. The Wolverines went 1-7 his senior year but Ford was named team MVP. His No. 48 jersey was retired in recognition of his lifetime achievements but later returned to circulation. 

49: Bob Chappuis, QB/HB

In 1945, Chappuis was a gunner on a B-25 bomber that was shot down over Italy during World War II. A year later, he returned to Michigan and broke Otto Graham’s Big Nine total offense record before leading the Mad Magicians to a national title in 1947. Enough said? 

50: David Molk, C

Though injuries hindered his NFL career, Molk paved the way for one of the best rushing attacks in school history while blocking for Denard Robinson and Fitzgerald Toussaint. Molk won the Rimington Trophy in 2011 as the nation’s top center and was a consensus first-team All-American. He also put up 41 reps on the bench press at the NFL combine.

51: Steve Everitt, OL

One of the great interior linemen in Michigan history, Everitt broke his jaw blocking on a touchdown run early in the 1991 season and was back in the starting lineup three weeks later. One of the toughest to ever do it.

52: Rod Payne, OL

Payne started 37 games at center for the Wolverines from 1993-96. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and earned first-team All-America status in 1996 before being drafted in the third round by the Bengals. 

53: Mel Owens, LB

Owens was a disruptive linebacker who finished his college career right around the time sacks started to become an official stat. He was a first-round pick of the Rams in 1981 and finished his pro career with 26.5 sacks. 

54: Maurice Williams, OL

Williams was a highly rated recruit from Detroit who started every game for the Wolverines in 2000. He was drafted in the second round by the Jaguars and spent a decade in the NFL. 

55: Brandon Graham, DE

The final two years of Graham’s Michigan career were two of the best by a U-M defensive lineman. He posted 46 of his 56 tackles for loss from 2008-09 along with 20.5 sacks. He trails only Mark Messner on Michigan’s career list in both categories. 

56: LaMarr Woodley, DE/LB

One of the most fearsome defenders in Michigan history, Woodley was a consensus first-team All-American in 2006 and a second-round draft pick of the Steelers. His 12 sacks that season give him a share of the Wolverines’ single-season record, and his 24 career sacks are tied for fourth in school history. 

57: Maynard Morrison, RB/OL/LB

In Morrison’s era, players played football, not necessarily a position. He was a hammer of a fullback, an effective center and good enough defensively for Harry Kipke to call him the best linebacker he had ever seen. 

58: Harold Watts, C

Watts played center during the World War II era and was Michigan’s MVP and a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1945. Line coach Biggie Munn was quoted as calling him “pound for pound the ablest man I ever coached.” 

59: George Lilja, OL

An All-American in 1980, Lilja was one of the best centers to play for Michigan during the Schembechler era. His final game was the 1981 Rose Bowl, Schembechler’s first postseason victory. 

60: Mark Messner, DL

Messner’s name is all over the Michigan record book, a testament to his dominance as an undersized defensive lineman for Schembechler’s teams of the late 1980s. He holds school records for career sacks (36) and tackles for loss (70), and his five sacks against Northwestern in 1987 remain a single-game school record. 

61: Willis Ward, WR

In March 1935, Ward beat Jesse Owens in both the 60-yard dash and the 65-yard high hurdles in front of roughly 5,000 people at a track meet in Ann Arbor. A member of two football national title teams, Ward is considered one of the best Michigan athletes of his day. He was the school’s first black player in 40 years. In 1934, he was forced to sit out a game as Georgia Tech refused to participate due to Ward’s race. He would later become a lawyer and a judge. 

62: Quentin Sickels, DL

Oosterbaan said he never coached “a finer gentleman or a better player” than Sickels, a standout defensive lineman on Michigan’s undefeated teams of 1947 and 1948. Sickels gave a memorable performance in the 1948 Rose Bowl despite reportedly being knocked unconscious in the second quarter. 

63: Julius Franks, OL

A member of Michigan’s famed “Seven Oak Posts” offensive line, Franks earned All-America honors in 1942 and developed the reputation for his ability to play an entire 60-minute game without needing to leave the field. His career was cut short due to tuberculosis in 1943. 

64: Jack Wheeler, QB/RB

Wheeler played quarterback, halfback and fullback and was named Michigan’s team MVP in 1930. His abilities as a runner, a kick returner and a defender earned him praise as one of the best players in the Big Ten. 

65: Reggie McKenzie, OL

Still considered one of the best Michigan’s ever had, McKenzie’s work on the offensive line was a massive factor in Schembechler’s early success. A College Football Hall of Famer, McKenzie helped the 1971 team rush for a ridiculous 3,977 yards. 

66: Mike Hammerstein, DL

Hammerstein was Michigan’s team MVP and a first-team All-American in 1985, when he recorded 23 tackles for loss and nine sacks from his defensive tackle position. He was drafted in the third round by the Bengals and spent five years in the NFL.

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67: Merv Pregulman, OL

Another College Football Hall of Famer, Pregulman was named an All-American at guard and tackle in 1943. He also played center in college, meaning he literally did it all up front.

68: Joe Cocozzo, OL

Cocozzo started 32 of his final 33 games as a right guard at Michigan, earning first-team All-America honors as a senior in 1992. He anchored the offensive line that season for a Michigan team that finished 9-0-3. Drafted by the Chargers in the third round.

69: Jon Runyan Sr., OL

A massive 6-foot-7 offensive tackle who could have played Big Ten basketball if he wanted to, Runyan was an All-Big Ten performer in 1995 who would go on to start 192 games in the NFL. He and his son, Jon Runyan Jr., are the only father-son duo to win Michigan’s offensive lineman of the year award. 

70: Roger Zatkoff, LB

Zatkoff, a native of Hamtramck, was an All-Big Ten linebacker for the Wolverines in 1951 and 1952. He went on to play for the Packers and the Lions, earning All-Pro honors in 1954 and 1955.

71: Dave Gallagher, DL

One of Schembechler’s first great defensive linemen who also happened to be an incredible student, Gallagher anchored defensive units that helped Michigan go 40-3-1 from 1971-73. He had a whopping 83 tackles as a senior All-American.

72: Dan Dierdorf, OL

Michigan’s Pro Football Hall of Famer from Canton, Ohio, was a first-team All-American in 1970 before going on to an illustrious career in the NFL and in the broadcast booth. He gets the nod here over Jumbo Elliott, another NFL mainstay recently selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

73: Maurice Hurst, DL

One of the most explosive interior defenders in recent Michigan memory, Hurst was a consensus All-American in 2017. His combination of power and quickness off the ball, along with his ability to run down defenders in space, made him one of the program’s more unique forces. 

74: Ben Bredeson, OL

Bredeson was a four-year starter for the Wolverines at left guard and a two-time team captain. He earned first-team all-conference honors in 2019 and should have a long career in the NFL.

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75: Greg Skrepenak, OL

A two-time All-American and the 1991 Big Ten offensive lineman of the year, the 6-foot-8 Skrepenak was a star offensive tackle in every way. The prototype for his time, Skrepenak’s size and athleticism allowed him to be dominant up front. 

76: Steve Hutchinson, OL

Hutchinson, an All-American in 1999 and 2000, recently became the eighth Michigan player selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a four-year starter on Michigan’s offensive line and made seven Pro Bowls during a 12-year career with the Seahawks, Vikings and Titans.

77: Jake Long, OL

In any other world, this would be Jon Jansen’s spot. He has a national title, he’s a two-time captain and a one-time Big Ten lineman of the year. Long was the No. 1 overall pick, a two-time captain, a two-time Big Ten OL of the year and a multi-time All-Pro. One of Michigan’s most historically rich numbers. 

78: Dean Dingman, OL

Dingman started 37 games for the Wolverines as an offensive guard from 1987-90. He played on three Big Ten championship teams and earned All-America honors as a senior before being drafted by the Steelers. 

79: Jeff Backus, OL

A four-year starter with 49 straight starts at left tackle and a national title ring in 1997, Backus was as steady as it gets for teams that relied on a punishing ground game to grind down opponents week after week.

80: Jerame Tuman, TE

One of the best tight ends to wear a Michigan uniform, Tuman was a three-time All-Big Ten selection and a first-team All-American on Michigan’s 1997 national title team. He finished his career with 98 receptions for 1,279 yards and played nearly a decade in the NFL.

81: Glen Steele, DL

Another star from the 1997 title team, Steele was a relentless force off the edge for a defense that goes in the books as the best in modern Michigan history. His 24 career sacks are tied for fourth all-time.

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82: Amara Darboh, WR

Darboh’s 150 receptions from 2013-16 put him ninth on Michigan’s career list. He was a third-round NFL Draft pick who spent last season with the Steelers.

83: Paul Seal, TE

An All-American in 1973, Seal was a co-captain on Michigan’s unbeaten squad that season and wound up with more than 1,000 receiving yards as a tight end in the NFL during a time when the ground game was everything. 

84: Merritt Green, DE

Green played left end for the Wolverines from 1949-52 and was named a team captain as a senior. He won the Meyer Morton Award in 1951 as the Michigan player who showed the most improvement during spring practices.

85: Paul Seymour, TE

A versatile athlete, Seymour came to Michigan as a tight end/receiver, where he played for the bulk of his career. As a senior in 1972, he switched to offensive tackle and wound up as a consensus first-team All-American. 

86: Mario Manningham, WR

It’s a close call between Manningham and Tai Streets, both of whom wore No. 86 for the Wolverines. Manningham is sixth in career receiving yards, two spots ahead of Streets, and fourth in career touchdown receptions. And he did it three seasons before declaring for the NFL Draft. Plus, he had a game-winning catch against Penn State with no time on the clock.

87: Ron Kramer, TE

One of the greatest players in Michigan history, Kramer was a field-stretching tight end back in the 1950s — one of the best players of his generation. Kramer also wound up playing professional basketball in addition to his championship run with the Packers. One of the best players on this list.

88: Jim Mandich, TE

Mandich and Jake Butt both wore No. 88 and are in the discussion as the best tight end to play at Michigan. Butt’s numbers (138 receptions, 1,646 yards) are slightly better, but adjusted for his era, Mandich had a prolific career with 119 catches for 1,508 yards from 1967-69. He’s also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

89: Richard Rifenburg, WR

After starting nine games for the Mad Magicians in ‘47, Rifenburg had more than 500 receiving yards in 1948 and wound up No. 4 in Heisman voting that season. His receiving touchdown records stood until Anthony Carter broke them in 1980. 

90: Chris Godfrey, DL

Godfrey played on the defensive line for Michigan from 1976-79 and was part of three Rose Bowl teams. He bounced between the NFL and the USFL before switching to the offensive line and starting at right guard for the Giants in Super Bowl XXI.

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91: Josh Williams, DL

Williams and Glen Steele both tied for the team lead with sacks (7) in 1997. Steele rushed off the edge, Williams pushed from the interior. An underrated force at Michigan in that era, Williams went on to play six seasons with the Colts. 

92: Fred Grambau, DL

Grambau played defensive tackle for the Wolverines from 1969-72, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior. He was drafted by the Chiefs and also played in the CFL.

93: Sam Sword, LB

The leading tackler on Michigan’s 1997 squad, Sword had 16 double-digit tackle games during his U-M career and ranks eighth all-time with 377 stops. One of the most consistent presences on that ‘97 defense. 

94: Jason Horn, DL

Horn earned All-America status in 1995 as a defensive tackle, finishing the season with 18 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. His 24 career sacks are tied for fourth on Michigan’s career list. 

95: Curtis Greer, DL

As a defensive lineman, Greer posted tackle numbers of 76, 74 and 100 from his sophomore to senior seasons at Michigan (ending in 1979). Those are absurd numbers for a guy who played in an era when TFLs were just starting to count. 

96: Calvin O’Neal, LB

O’Neal was a consensus All-America linebacker in 1976 and one of the most prolific tacklers in school history. He topped 150 total tackles in both 1975 and 1976, set the single-game school record with 24 against Purdue in 1976 and ranks seventh all-time with 396 career tackles. 

97: Chris Hutchinson, DL

An All-American and the Big Ten’s best defensive lineman in 1992, Hutchinson is still No. 4 on the school’s all-time sack list with 24. He forced 99 lost yards due to sacks as a senior, a record that held up until LaMarr Woodley broke it in 2006. 

98: Tom Harmon, HB

“Old 98” was Michigan’s first Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most dazzling players of his era. In the 1940 Michigan-Ohio State game, he threw two touchdown passes, scored twice on the ground, snagged three interceptions and received a standing ovation from Buckeye fans. In addition to winning the Heisman and the Maxwell Award, he was named Big Ten MVP and drafted No. 1 overall by the Bears. He piloted a fighter plane in World War II and returned to play two seasons for the Rams before embarking on his career as a sportscaster. 

99: Pierre Woods, LB

Michigan’s sack and TFL leader in 2003, Woods was a bit ahead of his time as a long edge defender who could fill multiple roles as a defender. Woods would go on to be a high-level special teams player for a stint with the Patriots. 

(Top photo of Woodson: Albert Dickson / Sporting News via Getty Images)

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