What’s Next For Michigan Football?
After winning the National Championship in January by double digits, the Michigan football program is currently at an impasse.
As it stands, winning the College Football Playoffs, accepting the crown as National Champions and posting an undefeated season is as flawless of a campaign as one team can complete. That string of success if precisely what the Wolverines accomplished in 2023.
So, what comes next?
With a title under his belt, Jim Harbaugh left his coaching post in Ann Arbor for the pros. A fleet of experienced starters either graduated or declared for the upcoming NFL Draft as well, adding to the turnover from year to year with first-season head coach Sherrone Moore leading the team. To round our those changes, USC and UCLA officially join the Big Ten this season, and the College Football Playoffs will expand to 12 teams.
Suffice to say, the college football experience in Ann Arbor will look and feel markedly different this fall.
Although 2024 will mark Moore’s first full campaign as head coach, the Broyles Award finalist has experience to lean on in that department. Last season, Moore replaced Harbaugh on the sidelines and led the Wolverines to a 4-0 record including a road win against No. 9 Penn State and a crucial victory at home over No. 2 Ohio State. So, Moore looks to build on those wins this fall, though he’ll need to find a running backs coach first with Mike Hart departing from the program.
On Friday, Brandon covered both the Hart departure and the finalization of Michigan’s coaching staff in great detail. When a figure as large as Harbaugh’s leaves a program, a power vacuum can form, so it’s not a major red flag to see changes to the coaching staff post-National Championship. Still, the sidelines will look and operate substantially differently.
As for the on-field product, more than a handful of starters with eligibility declared for April’s draft. In total, 17 Wolverines with some form of starting experience will need to be replaced, but depth and rotation were two key aspects of the Wolverines’ title run, so experience exists— but in short supply.
A prudent approach for Moore would be to establish continuity earlier, but that is difficult to accomplish with a new starting quarterback and so much turnover elsewhere. Right now, that battle looks to be sorted out between Alex Orji, Jayden Denegal, Jaydn Davis and Davis Warren unless Michigan picks up another signal caller from the transfer portal.
Whoever takes the first snap for Michigan this fall is expected to rely heavily on running back Donovan Edwards. After a dominant two-touchdown performance in the National Championship game, Edwards now has the UM backfield primarily to himself with Blake Corum heading to the pros, and his burst of straight-line speed will be needed ease the transition into a post-JJ McCarthy offense.
Who do you think will be face of Michigan Football moving forward? How will the Wolverines fare this fall? Let us know and follow along at @EricJRutter for more Wolverine Digest updates.
