Previously: Podcast 15.0A, 15.0B, 15.0C. The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. Interior OL. Defensive Interior. Edge. Linebacker. Cornerback. Depth Chart Safety Yr. Also Safety Yr. Makari Paige Jr.* Rod Moore Jr. Quinten Johnson Jr.* Keon Sabb Fr.* Zeke Berry Fr.* Caden Kolesar Sr.* Michigan lost RJ Moten in the offseason on a post-spring transfer to Florida that was entirely performance/playing-time related but otherwise rolls over the same depth chart from last season. Moten began 2022 as the #2 safety and logged considerable regular season snaps but by the end of last season was virtually unplayable at safety, so there is complete continuity from the Fiesta Bowl division of snaps. Caden Kolesar is back healthy after playing in just five games and the blue chip true freshmen safeties from last year are no longer true freshmen (but are still blue chip). SAFETY: Pax Safetifica RATING: 4.5 [Patrick Barron] Last August in the final season preview podcast, your author was asked to name his "dude" for the defense, the player you are irrationally excited about. I chose ROD MOORE, predicting a terrific season for him that would see Moore seamlessly help replace the departed Brad Hawkins and rise to be one of the best defensive players on the team. At the time it seemed a bit bold and the other panelists on said podcast were audibly startled. My logic was two-fold: Moore was getting immense fall camp hype describing the rising sophomore like a 5th year veteran and Moore had, as a 3* true freshman, started at safety and done perfectly fine against an Ohio State receiving group that has a legitimate claim to being the best of all time. That doesn't happen often and typically indicates a player destined for super-stardom. In a victory for my takes, my willingness to put the thumb on the scale for Rod Moore was right on the money: Game Plus Minus Tot Notes Colorado St. 6 0 6 Pick was a gimme, made his presence felt in run game Hawaii 3 0 3 True sophomore plays like a senior. Also tracking star UConn 4.5 0.5 4 Not tested in coverage, shoots into running game Maryland 5 -6 -1 Soph Gm 4 is a weird time to have your first freshman game Iowa 5.5 4 1.5 Missed a funnel, missed some tackles, still a rocket Indiana 4 4 0 Got the hang of screen-hunting eventually PSU 1 6.5 -5.5 A second late on 3rd and longs, -3 for the Clifford run MSU 11 0 11 OH DERE YOU ARE PETER PAN Rutgers 0 1 -1 Was he blitzing? Otherwise not used Nebraska 3.5 0 3.5 Star watch is back on Illinois 5.5 5 0.5 They got him with that screen OSU 10 5 5 Ha ha they didn't want you Purdue 7.5 2 5.5 Very very close to the star. TCU 5.5 2.5 3 Impact safety TOTAL 71 36.5 34.5 You get a star, good sir The chronology of Moore's season was a terrific start pushing him on the brink of star status, an October lull that may have been injury-related, followed by an end-of-season rampage beginning with a historic performance against MSU. He never did get a star on the diagram, but after his showing against TCU, he will begin the 2023 season with one. Well earned. [AFTER THE JUMP: some clips]