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While it’s become the fashionable thing to predict that Michigan will be the surprise team in college football on a yearly basis, most analysts refuse to be fooled again.
It seems like most years, the Wolverines either underwhelm or rise to defy expectations only to be let down come the final week of the regular season when they face rival Ohio State. While the Buckeyes are still the favorite to win the conference with the new, revamped schedule released on Saturday, FOX Sports analyst Matt Leinart still thinks Michigan could surprise this fall.
And there’s one reason behind that: starting quarterback Joe Milton.
Likening Milton to former Auburn and current New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, if the first-time starter can come and and take full advantage of his physical tools in his second year in Josh Gattis’ offense, then the maize and blue have a good shot to make some noise this season, Leinart says.
“I’m gonna look at Michigan,” Leinart said. “Every year going into the season, Michigan is one of the top teams in college football. They just can’t get over that hump and beat Ohio State.
“Joe Milton got named the starting quarterback. What are we gonna see from him? This is a big dude – 6’5”, 245-pounds. Kinda reminds me of the Cam Newton build. Great arm – I’m not saying he is Cam Newton (but) great arm and can run. Josh Gattis – year two calling plays. How does that marriage work. It’s gonna be really interesting to see Michigan – start fast, and if he can grow fast, maybe they’re a contender as well.”
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While former Ohio State head coach-turned-analyst Urban Meyer isn’t exactly about to start heaping praise all over Michigan, having seen Milton first-hand before The Game in 2018, Meyer says it’s kind of hard to ignore what Milton brings to the table.
In Meyer’s opinion, if Milton can show out, then the sky’s the limit for Michigan football in 2020.
“Let me tell you real quick about Milton,” Meyer said. “During our game, in the pregame warmups, I’d always walk over, start looking at their personnel, check them out. And I was like, ‘Who is that cat?’ That is a Cam Newton lookalike. And he’s got a hose and he can run. They need to perform at that position.”
It’ll be a tough road for the first-year starter, as Michigan opens the season at Minnesota before facing rival MSU. Two weeks later, the Wolverines host Wisconsin and Penn State another two weeks after that. Ohio State returns as the regular season finale in 2020.
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