Jesse Minter has dipped into the college ranks again, as the Ravens are reportedly hiring Defensive Line Coach Lou Esposito, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
Esposito, 48, spent the past two seasons coaching defensive linemen at the University of Michigan. He didn't overlap with Minter, who was the Wolverines' defensive coordinator in 2022-2023.
Yet Minter knew well of Esposito's work developing linemen on former Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale's defense.
Michigan had two defensive linemen – Mason Graham (No. 5, Cleveland Browns) and Kenneth Grant (No. 13, Miami Dolphins – drafted in the first round last year). In this year's draft, Michigan again has two strong prospects in defensive end Derrick Moore and Rayshaun Benny.
Before coaching at Michigan, Esposito was Western Michigan's defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for seven seasons (2017-2023), earning a reputation as one of the conference's best.
In 2016, he was the head coach at Davenport University, a startup program in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and went 6-5 in his debut season.
Esposito is reportedly leaving Michigan just as his oldest son is set to join the Wolverines as a 2027 offensive lineman recruit.
The Ravens have a stout defensive line returning with Travis Jones and John Jenkins signed to contract extensions near the end of last season and Broderick Washington Jr. returning from injury. Nnamdi Madubuike's status has been in question, but if he's able to play it would be a significant boost to the Ravens' defensive front.
Dennis Johnson coached the Ravens' defensive line the past two seasons but followed John Harbaugh to New York. Baltimore has also reportedly brought back former defensive lineman and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator.
