ANN ARBOR, Mich. — While fans usually expect more each year from the known commodities, a few players always come from out of seemingly nowhere. Sherrone Moore talked about a few Michigan football players who have improved the most throughout fall camp, but what about the players who have yet to play a down of college football?
The Wolverines routinely have had freshmen step up in Year 1.
Going back to Jim Harbaugh’s second year (2016), those players were running back Chris Evans, left guard Ben Bredeson and linebacker Devin Bush. In 2017, it was two wide receivers, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Tarik Black (before his Week 3 injury). In 2019, it was running back Zach Charbonnet. In the much-maligned 2020 season, running back Blake Corum was the first tailback to receive a carry. Defensive tackle Mason Graham made some big plays in his first year as did cornerback Will Johnson (2022). Wide receiver Semaj Morgan was that guy this past season.
So who is standing out thus far in 2024? Sherrone Moore has a few candidates.
“Yeah, there’s a couple of them. Start at the quarterback position: Jadyn Davis, he just has the ‘it’ factor, makes plays, competitive,” Moore said. “Obviously, was a three-time state champion player of the year, but poised, has ability. We’ll see how it progresses.
“His teammate, Channing Goodwin — he’s a playmaker. He’s a dude that’s going to probably help us this year in some way, shape or form. And always said that it’s easier to play the farther you are from the ball, especially early. If you’re a lineman, D-lineman, it’s harder to play early. So those guys, those guys up front, those linemen, especially O-linemen, it’s harder for them to play early. And they’re all going to be really good players, but those two, from a skill set standpoint, I think offensively will be the guys, and then the tight ends have been awesome.
“Jordan Marshall is probably the next guy. He’s got a chance to be special, dynamic.”
Moore was quickly interrupted so that we could learn more about Marshall. Could he be that third tailback, usurping the snaps of some of the others who have been in the program? Given what he’s seen from the veterans, it will be a difficult proposition.
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Moore said. “Ben Hall is — you know, having guys like Jordan Marshall in the room will make you play fast and physical. And Ben Hall has played, all of 230 pounds he is, so he’s run physical, fast, so super excited how he’s hit and how he’s gaining momentum.”
There are also two defensive players who could see the field early and often in 2024; both early enrollees. Michigan needs depth at edge rusher and has relied on freshmen before: Rashan Gary in 2016 and Derrick Moore in 2022 to name two. And though there’s some depth at linebacker, there’s one name that’s stood out, Moore says.
“Dominic Nichols is probably the guy that jumps out the most as a freshman. That’s really because he’s been here in the spring and he came here and he’s been in the fall. So he’s a guy that I think as a freshman has got a chance. And then probably one more guy is Cole Sullivan.”