We look at who we would currently project to start, backup and mix in at each offensive position group for the Michigan football team.
These days, the world of college football, particularly for the Michigan football team, is consistently dynamic and full of activity.
In the recent week alone, the Wolverines secured a national title, marked the occasion with a televised parade and indoor celebration, witnessed players entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, and observed nearly two dozen players making decisions about the NFL Draft. With the passing of the decision deadlines starting Tuesday, we now have an opportunity to reassess the Wolverines’ situation as they gear up for the 2024 season.
Our initial approach involves examining a preliminary depth chart, keeping track of player arrivals and departures. We evaluate who we currently anticipate to be the starters, backups, and contributors in each offensive position group. Additionally, we provide an analysis of the current status, including a Transfer Portal need meter.
Consistently, our depth charts do not incorporate ties, although we may provide explanations for choosing one player over another. In this particular version, our focus is solely on returning players, as well as enrolled transfers and recruits. We refrain from predicting breakout players who might emerge in August and instead focus on the lineup the Wolverines would likely field if they had a month to prepare for a game.
Now, turning our attention to the offense, a significant challenge lies ahead as the team needs to fill the shoes of its starting quarterback, running back, top two wide receivers, and the top six offensive linemen.
Starting Quarterback: Jayden Denegal (Redshirt sophomore)
Backup Quarterback: Alex Orji (Redshirt sophomore)
In the Mix: Jadyn Davis (Freshman), Davis Warren (Redshirt junior)
Excluded: JJ McCarthy, Jack Tuttle
New Addition: Jadyn Davis (Ranked No. 93 in the 247Sports Composite, No. 7 quarterback)
Transfer Need: 9 out of 10
Why this order: There are arguably more question marks surrounding Michigan’s quarterback room alone than the Wolverines’ entire roster this time a year ago, so this order should not be viewed as permanent.
But from our time viewing snippets of practices over the past month, we give Denegal the slight edge, as he came off as a slightly more polished and confident passer. Orji played more snaps than Denegal down the home stretch of the season (Denegal played 28 snaps to Orji’s 17 during the whole season), but most of those were in a run-first role. He may be objectively Michigan’s best athlete on the team, but he did not attempt a pass this season and has one completion for five yards through two seasons.
Denegal went 4 for 5 this season for 50 yards and a touchdown, and seemed to pass Warren as Michigan’s No. 3 quarterback behind McCarthy and Tuttle. That may not seem like much, but Orji played 17 snaps this year and didn’t attempt a pass; is Michigan sold on him as QB1 for a team trying to defend a national title?
We’re intrigued by Davis, who finished the 2024 cycle as a top-100 recruit and won two MaxPrep North Carolina Player of the Year awards while throwing for 6,975 yards, 11.5 yards per attempt, 86 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a 71.7 completion percentage over the last two years. He may have fallen off five-star status, but Michigan isn’t discouraged. That said, we’ll wait to see how spring practices go before setting too many year-one expectations.for him. Remember: Jim Harbaugh had both Andrew Luck and JJ McCarthy wait a year before earning starting jobs.
As a room, Michigan’s quarterbacks have great arm strength and athleticism, and all three quarterbacks have high, high potential. But with a combined 10 collegiate completions between the above-listed quarterback candidates, this room enters the spring with a lot to prove, and plenty of room to add a transfer.
Running back
Starter: Senior Donovan Edwards
Backup: Fifth-year senior Kalel Mullings
In the mix: Sophomore Benjamin Hall, sophomore Cole Cabana, redshirt junior Tavierre Dunlap
Who’s out: Blake Corum, CJ Stokes, Leon Franklin
Who’s in: N/A
Transfer need: 3 out of 10
Why this order: In a weekend full of draft departures, Edwards’ return is a notable one. The junior and former top-40 recruit had a bit of a down season this year, rushing for 497 yards and 4.2 yards per carry in 15 games, but added 249 receiving yards and went off for 104 rushing yards and two scores in the national title game. Over three seasons, Edwards now has recorded 2,491 scrimmage yards and 19 touchdowns on 366 touches. He’ll be asked to grow his game, particularly in terms of vision and after-contact playmaking, but he has the athletic potential to be an All-Big Ten running back next fall.
Behind him, Michigan’s depth is a little less proven, but Mullings had a nice redshirt junior season with 222 rushing yards on 6.2 yards per carry. Edwards will want all the carries he can get, but Mullings presents as a bigger, strong back who can pick up some key yardage between the tackles. Same goes for Hall, who had a quiet freshman season (15 carries, 69 yards), but is a back Mike Hart has compared to Hassan Haskins due to his strength and persistence as a runner.
If Michigan sees a back it likes in the portal, it won’t be shy. But as of right now, Edwards’ return greatly decreases the Wolverines’ need to add a running back this offseason.
Wide receiver
Starters: Sophomore Semaj Morgan, junior Tyler Morris, sophomore Fredrick Moore
Backups: Redshirt junior Peyton O’Leary, sophomore Karmello English, redshirt freshman Kendrick Bell
Who’s out: Roman Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, Darrius Clemons
Transfer need: 8 out of 10