Michigan football is halfway through spring ball and though there are a lot of faces that will join the team in the summer, the bulk of the program is being forged now through the offseason practice sessions.
We’ve heard a lot from players and coaches in the weekly media availabilities and thus are starting to garner some idea as to what the next iteration of the Wolverines will look like. Though it could change in a hurry with players coming and going via the transfer portal, much of the team is set.
Though the offense is a little more questionable than the defense.
There’s no obvious starting quarterback on the roster at this juncture. The offensive line is a work in progress. There’s little depth at wide receiver. But tight end and running back are completely set while the aforementioned offensive line does have a lot of entrenched talent at particular positions.
With that in mind, here is our predicted two-deep for the Michigan Wolverines offense halfway through spring ball with some sure things and some estimated guesses.
Starter: Alex Orji
Backup: Davis Warren
Alex Orji has been the first player mentioned any time any teammates or coaches have been asked about the quarterback competition. But, in a way, he’s winning by default.
Seventh-year QB Jack Tuttle has been precluded from participating due to an undisclosed injury. Tuttle was the backup last year and admirably moved the ball down the field when called upon. Thus, should Michigan stand pat when it comes to QB in the transfer portal, the likely battle will be between Orji and Tuttle.
But Orji has some pros and cons. The biggest upside is his athleticism as he’s essentially a carbon copy (in many ways) of Alabama QB Jalen Milroe. But, reports have indicated that he’s inconsistent in his throwing — something that’s not exactly ideal for an offense.
We’ll get a better glimpse of him when the lights turn on for the spring game and then see what Sherrone Moore decides to do after that.
Starter: Myles Hinton
Backup: Jeff Persi
We’ve heard nothing but great things about the former five-star as he becomes poised to be the veteran on the offensive line. He’s drawn rave reviews all spring and has slimmed down, looking svelte and able to move. The question for him will be consistency. He looked solid before his late-season injury when inserted, but his start of the season was a bit shaky. Has he finally turned a corner? It does appear so.
As for Persi, he’s been around for a long time and has been waiting his turn. He did start in one game two years ago at Rutgers and performed admirably. Even if he doesn’t win the starting job, he very well could play often as the backups for Michigan have tended to in the past few years.
Starter: Josh Priebe
Backup: Nathan Efobi
We do know that Priebe is repping at left guard thus far in spring ball (because he told us during his Monday press conference). The former Northwestern guard has reportedly had a stellar debut in Michigan’s spring ball period and very well could set himself up well for the future like most of Michigan’s recent offensive line transfers have.
The bigger question we have is who is backing him up on the left side. For now, we’re penciling in Efobi who has reportedly had a solid spring session thus far. He arrived last year with requisite college size and has had to learn the game. He got some high praise from Grant Newsome, his position coach (as did Evan Link). It’s unclear if he’s practicing more on the left or right side but we’re putting him here for now.
Starter: Greg Crippen
Backup: Raheem Anderson II
Both from the 2021 class, both have had to watch as their team took a transfer center who started in each of the past two years.
Reportedly, Crippen has taken a big step forward and while Anderson mostly got scout team reps last year, he’s drawn rave reviews in his Michigan tenure. It’s difficult to project who is actually ahead of who at this juncture, but for now, this is the pecking order as we see it.
Starter: Giovanni El-Hadi
Backup: Amir Herring
If Priebe is starting on the left side in spring ball, that almost certainly means that El-Hadi is working the right side. El-Hadi has seen a lot of minutes in the past two years backing up Trevor Keegan (who missed a few games) and while it’s perhaps not ideal that he’d be working the other side given how good he was on the left, Michigan does cross train its linemen. El-Hadi has all the talent in the world and would have been starting the past few years if it weren’t for the depth ahead of him.
The question here, much like the left side, is who is working as a backup. Again, we don’t know is working right and left, but we’re slotting in sophomore Amir Herring here. He has the requisite size and now with a year of experience, it wouldn’t be surprising if he’s making a move up the depth chart.
Starter: Andrew Gentry
Backup: Tristan Bounds
Gentry drew rave reviews from former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh last fall when the sophomore made a big step forward. His only problem? There were obvious starters ahead of him. Expect him to cement his position along the line this spring and carry it into fall.
We’ve heard little about the backup tackles but we’re giving senior Tristan Bounds the nod here. The tall tackle has been in the system for years now and should be beyond serviceable when it comes to coming in and making an impact — though we’ve heard little of his progress.
Starter: Colston Loveland
Backup: Marlin Klein
Loveland is a star and the obvious starter entering his junior year. Likely the best tight end in the country, he’s poised to be the focal point of the offense and could be a first-round pick in 2025.
Klein has drawn rave reviews all offseason and appears ready to step in and be that high-end blocking tight end. However, according to Loveland, he possesses top-end speed and is reportedly a complete tight end.
Starter: Max Bredeson
Backup: Jalen Hoffman
Bredeson will also be used heavily as a tight end, but he considers himself primarily a fullback. In a world where that position isn’t used often, Michigan relies heavily on his willingness to contact and he’s among the most hard-nosed players in the sport.
He said on Monday that Jalen Hoffman has been backing him up so this is less a projection than a reality.
Starter: Donovan Edwards
Backup: Kalel Mullings
This pairing is obvious as they were the No. 2 and 3 options last year and were No. 1 and 2 in 2022 when Blake Corum was hurt.
The redux of ‘thunder and lightning,’ it’s unclear who will end up getting more carries overall. Edwards has a diverse skill set and is working to become a more complete back. But, he struggled last year in between the tackles — which appeared to be more of a mental block than anything else. Still, he’s among the most electric players in all of college football and will be working to showcase his abilities in hopes to be an early draft pick next year.
Mullings has fully acclimated to the running back role after spending his first few years as a linebacker. Hoping his fumbling issues are behind him, he was stellar when called upon in 2023, though injuries precluded him from action in much of the latter half of the season.
Starter: Fredrick Moore
Backup: Peyton O’Leary
Michigan’s most likely deep-ball threat candidate is the 6-foot-1 sophomore who garnered a lot of praise in his first year of college football. He’s gotten accolades in spring and is expected to earn a starting role in 2024.
O’Leary has long earned respect and was mentioned by former coach Jim Harbaugh for the past two years as being among the best in the receiver room. For now, he could back up either of the outside receiver spots.
Starter: Tyler Morris
Backup: Semaj Morgan
We’re somewhat cheating here, but Morris was the starter on the inside last year but could also figure heavily on the outside this year. Morgan could also play both roles.
Either way, expect heavy doses of both and expect both on the field at the same time early and often.