Michigan Wolverines football had eight players honored as All-Big Ten in Lindy’s annual college football preview magazine.

Two Wolverines were named to the first team, while five were listed as second team and one as third team. For a program that saw seven players drafted from an 8-5 team last year, having eight players viewed as the cream of the crop in the Big Ten is significant.

Wolverines on the first team include kicker Dominic Zvada and linebacker Jaishawn Barham. The five Wolverines represented on the second team are running back Justice Haynes, defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny, edge rusher TJ Guy, linebacker Ernest Hausmann, and safety Rod Moore. Corner back Jyaire Hill made it on the third team.

Zvada may be the least surprising honoree as he was named the Big Ten’s Kicker of the Year last season. He finished the year 21 for 22 on field goal attempts, including seven makes of 50+ yards, a Michigan school record.

Haynes is an interesting addition. Coming in as a transfer from Alabama, his production was not overly impressive (448 yards, 7 touchdowns), but his yards per carry (5.7) allowed him to be ranked as the top transfer RB by 247Sports and third-best transfer RB by On3. The Wolverines are hopeful he can come in and lead a backfield that saw Donovon Edwards and Kalel Mullings depart for the NFL.

Based on the rest of the honored Wolverines being defensive players, Michigan fans should be hopeful the team will have a strong defense once again under second-year defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.