Spring Check-In: Michigan moves forward with Sherrone Moore for…

Within To find out more about the Longhorns’ new conference rivals, Texas has made sure to follow beat reporters covering SEC schools for On3 affiliates. However, Texas has a non-conference match against the Michigan Wolverines in early September before the Horns play their first SEC season.

The Wolverine staff writer Clayton Sayfie took some time to respond to a few inquiries regarding the Michigan Wolverines prior to Sherrone Moore’s inaugural campaign as head coach. On September 7, Texas plays Michigan in Ann Arbour, Michigan.

1. How is the show being received now that Sherrone Moore has replaced Jim Harbaugh?

that things are both similar and different. The key point is that, despite the departure of Harbaugh and the entire defensive staff, the players have stated that they would not permit the culture to alter in any way. Over the past few years, there has been a trickle-down effect as leaders have moved on and given the torch to others. They hope that holds true for the employees as well.

What offensive narrative should the Wolverines follow in the spring (transfers, top recruits, departing coaches, etc.)?

The gossip of the town regarding Michigan is that they are looking for a quarterback. Right now, there are actually five players in the running: Jack Tuttle, a graduate, Davis Warren, a senior, Jayden Denegal, a junior, Alex Orji, and a freshman, Jadyn Davis. To stand out from the crowd, someone will need to demonstrate that they are a signal-caller of the starting calibre. If not, it’s generally accepted that Michigan will try to transfer after the portal opens in the middle of April.

3. Which spring defensive plot should I follow the Wolverines on?

The recurrent talent, given its abundance. With All-American cornerback Will Johnson, juniors Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and talented players surrounding them, Michigan boasts possibly the best defensive tackle tandem in the nation.

Ironically, despite the fact that the entire defensive staff was replaced this offseason, many of the new hires are well-known names. Conversely, the Wolverines lost ten offensive starters, but they still have much of the same coaches, with Moore serving as the coordinator the previous year.

Even though he employs the same defensive scheme that Michigan has employed for the past three years under his former protégés Mike Macdonald (2021) and Jesse Minter (2022–23), new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale will have his own flair. How much more aggressively Martindale calls games, I wonder.

The fact that senior safety Rod Moore, who ranks seventh among returning safeties in the nation this season according to PFF, tore his ACL during the team’s first few spring practices is another intriguing subplot. Michigan will need to find a replacement for him because he makes a huge difference. While they do have some potential there, Moore is a game-changer.

4. Out of the Michigan roster for 2023, which returner was the most crucial?

Johnson or Grant is my choice, but I’ll go with the former. Will, a legacy player whose father, Deon, was a defensive back at Michigan, is an outstanding player and one of the team’s captains even as a junior. He was excellent all around last season and was named the Defensive MVP of the national championship game. He made a huge pick to start the third quarter of the team’s 34-13 victory over Washington. This year, he should make even more progress.

5. Which addition to the transfer site was most crucial for Michigan?

Just two transfers—junior offensive guard Josh Priebe (Northwestern) and linebacker Jaishawn Barham (Maryland)—entered the portal during the December window, and both will make their debuts this autumn for Michigan. I’ll say that Barham was the biggest pickup for the Wolverines simply because they appear to have enough talented players on the offensive line. He is an outstanding athlete who shone at Maryland with a number of spectacular plays and may reach his full potential at Michigan. Although he is still learning the playbook, he has reportedly made quite an impression this spring.

6. Which signing class of 2024 was Michigan’s most crucial?

Ransom back Jordan Marshall, ranked 100th. Not only is he a talented player with the potential to be the next in a long line of outstanding Michigan running backs, but the Wolverines also recruited him from Cincinnati, which is a rare victory in Ohio recruiting from a club other than Ohio State. Even if there is a lot of ability and depth in that room already, he can still earn a spot this autumn even though he joins in the summer.

7. Aside from The Game, the 2024 scheduling item that Michigan supporters have highlighted is…The Texas game, and I don’t just say it because I’m doing an interview for the greatest fan site for Texans online. Even more challenging than the home game against Oregon on November 2, I believe Michigan’s clash against Oregon on September 7 at The Big House will be the second-toughest of the season.

Quinn Ewers at quarterback is one of the many productive returnees for the Longhorns, who have also added some talented transfers. They are who they are, and at the start of the season, Michigan might still be figuring things out, at least offensively. That will be a difficult assignment to complete.