2023 Michigan Football Opponent Preview: East Carolina

Michigan and East Carolina will meet for the first time ever in the program's history on Saturday. The Wolverines are coming off a 13-1 season with a loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff. While the Pirates are coming off an 8-5 season with a win in their bowl game against Coastal Carolina.

East Carolina is coached by Mike Houston. Houston is entering his fifth season at the helm. He has compiled a 22-24 record in his four seasons at ECU. Houston came from James Madison where he coached for three seasons and went 37-6.

The Pirates had a good season last year, but East Carolina will look like a brand-new team in 2023. They are ranked 130th in the country in returning production. The Pirates return just 34% of their production from last year -- including just about every major playmaker from their prolific offense.

2022 stat comparison:

Scoring offense: Michigan (6th) 40.4 PPG -- East Carolina (35th) 32.5 PPG

Scoring defense: Michigan (7th) 16.1 PPG -- East Carolina (73rd) 27.2 PPG

Passing offense: Michigan (83rd) 219.9 YPG -- East Carolina (16th) 290.5 YPG

Passing defense: Michigan (20th) 194.2 YPG -- East Carolina (130th) 292.8 YPG

Rushing offense: Michigan (5th) 238.9 YPG -- East Carolina (54th) 170.6 YPG

Rushing defense: Michigan (7th) 97.9 YPG -- East Carolina (19th) 112.4 YPG

Total offense: Michigan (24th) 458.8 YPG -- East Carolina (23rd) 461.1 YPG

Total defense: Michigan (6th) 292.1 YPG -- East Carolina (91st) 405.2 YPG

2022 PFF comparison:

Overall grade: Michigan (2nd) 94.2 -- East Carolina (74th) 77.3

Offense: Michigan (11th) 88.5 -- East Carolina (47th) 79.1

Passing: Michigan (52nd) 72.7 -- East Carolina (14th) 81.7

Pass block: Michigan (24th) 74.0 -- East Carolina (99th) 55.4

Running: Michigan (1st) 96.1 -- East Carolina (30th) 89.2

Run block: Michigan (20th) 72.1 -- East Carolina (72nd) 58.4

Defense: Michigan (2nd) 93.7 -- East Carolina (114th) 66.5

Run defense: Michigan (2nd) 92.9 -- East Carolina (41st) 81.0

Pass rush: Michigan (17th) 85.3 -- East Carolina (125th) 60.3

Coverage: Michigan (2nd) 92.0 -- East Carolina (123rd) 54.4

East Carolina key players LOST from 2022:

QB: Holton Ahlers -- threw for 3,708 yards and 28 TDs in 2022

RB: Keaton Mitchell -- rushed for 1,452 yards and 14 TDs in 2022

WR: Isaiah Winstead-- caught for 1,085 yards and 6 TDs in 2022

WR: C.J. Johnson -- caught for 1,016 yards and 10 TDs in 2022

OL: Nishad Strother, Justin Redd, Avery Jones, and Noah Henderson -- only one returning O-lineman from 2022

S: Gerald Stringer -- second on the team with 69 tackles, also had 1 INT in 2022

LB: Myles Berry -- third-leading tackler with 65 tackles, had 2.5 sacks in 2022

DL: Shaundree Mims -- second-leading sack-getter with four in 2022

East Carolina key returnees

QB: Mason Garcia -- Junior QB who played in three games last season. Went 7-for-12 for 54 yards. Has played in 12 games during his career. Can be a runner at times, but was never forced to run the ball when he was in.

RB: Rahjai Harris -- Junior RB who played in five games in 2022 due to an injury. He ran the ball 67 times for 238 yards and five scores. He ran the ball 164 times for 579 yards and four scores in 2021 as the No. 2 back.

RB: Marlon Gunn Jr. -- Sophomore RB who played in 11 games last season. His stat line was 68 attemps for 344 yards.

WR: Jaylen Johnson -- Senior WR who originally was with Georgia. Was the No. 4 leading receiver in 2022 with 26 catches for 340 yards and four TDs.

TE: Shane Calhoun -- Junior TE who will now become a top option in 2023. He played in 11 games and caught the ball 25 times for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

G: Isaiah Foote Jr -- only returning starting offensive lineman from 2022.

S: Juluis Wood -- Wood had interest from major college football programs this past offseason but chose to stay at East Carolina. He led the team in tackles last season with 88. The hard-hitting safety also had a pair of interceptions.

Edge: Jeremy Lewis -- The senior Edge rusher led the team in 2022 with 4.5 sacks. He also contributed with 60 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.

DL: Chad Stephens -- The junior defensive lineman led the team with 10 tackles for loss. He also had 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Michigan and East Carolina will take place in Ann Arbor on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on Peacock.