Not many analysts are giving Michigan football much of a chance to repeat as national champions in 2024. It does make sense — the entire offensive line, quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum. and two team captains on defense have moved on to the NFL. But one 247Sports analyst says that the road to Atlanta for the maize and blue requires ‘consistent’ play from one position.
247Sports’ Clint Brewster is a national analyst who actually sees the Wolverines for what they are — a team with a complete, perhaps generational defense, and a lot of solid offensive pieces. But the way Brewster sees it, if Alex Orji wins the starting quarterback job and is merely consistent, that should be enough for the Wolverines to win a second straight national championship.
If #Michigan is able to create consistency in the passing with Alex Orji this year, I think they will win it all again
— Clint Brewster (@clintbrew247) August 19, 2024
Many aren’t recognizing what Brewster does here: Michigan is built much like Georgia has been in recent years. Though Stetson Bennett was spectacular in his senior year, he wasn’t some ballyhooed recruit for the Bulldogs — he was a former walk-on. And UGA won primarily from dominant line play on both sides of the ball, a consistent quarterback and run game, with an elite tight end.
Guess what Michigan is projected to have in 2024?
Yet, many will look to the teams that are loaded with five-star talent (which, Georgia always is, but it matters more what you do with it in games), especially at the skill positions.
Media are often wooed by the shiny toys that football teams have, but it’s usually line play that determines football games. And Michigan may have the best or near the best in college football on both sides of the ball.
So, with that in mind, Alex Orji — if he wins — presents a lot of challenges for opposing defenses. Given what he can do with his legs, if he can be a 65% passer (or thereabouts), and take care of the football, the Wolverines would have more than a solid shot to make it back to the College Football Playoff and beyond.