Jim Harbaugh Has Built A National Championship-Caliber Team At Michigan
It's shaping up to be a special football season in Ann Arbor, one that many believe will end with the Michigan Wolverines capturing their first national championship since 1997.
The reason for all of the optimism is that the Wolverines have one of the most complete rosters in college football - starting up front with an offensive line that is full of future NFL talent, a veteran quarterback who's considered a legitimate Heisman candidate, a running back duo that is unquestionably the best in the nation, and a whole host of wideouts that can pose a serious problem for the opposing secondary.
And that's just the offense.
Defensively, Michigan returns veteran impact players across the board. It starts up front with guys like Kris Jenkins, Kenneth Grant and Rayshaun Benny. At EDGE, Michigan has a handful of guys who are primed for a breakout season - including Braiden McGregor, Derrick Moore, Jaylen Harrell, and Coastal Carolina transfer Josiah Stewart. There are zero weaknesses at linebacker, with veterans like Mike Barrett, Junior Colson, and Nebraska transfer Ernest Hausmann. In the secondary, Michigan features one of the top units in the country - led by Will Johnson, Mike Sainristil, Rod Moore, and Makari Paige.
The only real question mark on this football team was at one of the cornerback positions, with a handful of Wolverines jockeying for the other starting position opposite Will Johnson. Would it be sophomore wideout-turned-corner Amorion Walker? Would it be junior Ja'Den McBurrows?
On Wednesday, Michigan seemingly answered that question with the commitment of veteran transfer cornerback, Josh Wallace. The 6-0, 190 pound senior out of UMass, recorded 41 tackles (32 solo, nine assisted), 3.0 TFL (four yards), a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups during the 2022 season. Wallace, a four-year starter, also served as a team captain for two of his four years with the Minutemen.
With the addition of Wallace, it certainly feels like Harbaugh has added the final piece to his national championship-caliber team. Top to bottom, the Michigan Wolverines are built to win a national championship in 2023. They've beaten Ohio State two years in a row, won the Big Ten championship two years in a row, and have made two-consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff - only to be bounced in the Semifinal game each time.
This year already feels different. The only question at this point is whether or not the Wolverines can finally live up to the lofty expectation that sits before them: winning it all.