Lindy’s Sports talked to an anonymous college football coach about Michigan Wolverines footballin its college football preview magazine. The coach discussed first-year head man Sherrone Mooretaking over the program following Jim Harbaugh‘s departure to the Los Angeles Chargers, replacing talent lost to the NFL, the quarterback competition and more.
Moore was an assistant at Michigan for six seasons before being promoted to head coach. He rose up from his post as tight ends coach (2018-20) to offensive line coach (2021-23), serving as co-offensive coordinator (2021-22) and then sole O.C. (2023). Him earning a head-coaching job — with the Wolverines or elsewhere — was part of a natural progression for a rising star in the industry.
Moore has struck the balance of connecting with players (and all those he comes into contact with) and tapping into the fiery side of his personality.
“Happy for Sherrone Moore. He’s poised but passionate,” the anonymous coach put it.
At the same time, taking over for Harbaugh, a Michigan legend who played quarterback for the Wolverines in the 1980s and turned the program around after seven-plus dark years, won’t be an easy task. There’s immense pressure after winning the national title.
“The dude’s worked his way up and he’s going to win a lot of games, but nothing is guaranteed in this sport,” the coach continued “It’s always about right coach, right time, right place. So on the other hand, I don’t see how Moore can ever live up to the standard in Ann Arbor.”
There’s still talent remaining in 2024, including three preseason first-team All-Americans per Lindy’s, the most in the nation (a trio of juniors in cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackle Mason Graham and tight end Colston Loveland). Nine transfer additions have entered the mix, too, many of whom are slated to play significant roles this fall.
The quarterback position, though, remains a mystery. Graduate Jack Tuttle, senior Davis Warren and junior Alex Orji appear to be the top three contenders, and the competition could go into the season. How high of a level the quarterback(s) play at will be a big determiner of the team’s ceiling.
“The Wolverines had [13] players drafted, the transfer portal has been a revolving door and they’re heading into camp with an open quarterback competition,” the coach said. “Things get tricky fast.
“It sounds like the athletic kid, Orji, is probably gonna take that job. But they’ve still got to lean into the run game. [Senior running back] Donovan Edwards is a man amongst boys.”
The one obvious point, per the coach, is that Michigan’s defense is expected to be elite again.
“They have enough talent on defense to sustain. That’s a given,” the anonymous source said in closing.
What Lindy’s said about Michigan football
Lindy’s broke down expectations for Michigan in 2024, with players to watch, primary strengths and potential problems.
Primary strengths: “The defense is as solid as they come. There are a lot of new starters, but they are players who were stars last year in rotation. New coordinator Wink Martindale was the architect of the defense that was installed in 2021 by Mike Macdonald (the duo worked together in Baltimore).”
Potential problems: “Did somebody say, ‘quarterback?’ With mass departures to the NFL, the offense has some key pieces with no clear starting quarterback and an inexperienced group of receivers.”
Players to watch: RB Donovan Edwards, TE Colston Loveland, DT Mason Graham, [junior] DT Kenneth Grant, [junior] EDGE Derrick Moore, [junior] LB Jaishawn Barham, CB Will Johnson
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