When you look at the defense as a whole, the Cowboys have essentially gained six new starters by either making a trade, getting an injured player back, or, in the case of Ezeiruaku, promoting a promising young rookie. The new starters are as follows:

With the transfer portal opening in January, Michigan must turn its attention to veteran additions that can supplement a young roster.

Entering Week 13 of college football 's 2025 season, true freshmen have made their mark at every position — but they're not the preseason names that everyone expected. Only one five-star recruit currently leads his position group, while eight of the 12 position groups are topped by former three-star recruits.