Despite losing nearly 20 key players from the 2023 roster, the Michigan Wolverines still have plenty of talent returning for the 2024 season. Backed by a defense that’s projected to be one of the best in the country and an offense with weapons like Donovan Edwards and Colston Loveland, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Wolverines win their fourth straight Big Ten championship and be firmly in the running to defend their national title. To do that, they’ll need to perform at a high level at several key positions that are still a bit of a question mark just a month before fall camp.
1. Quarterback
Although there are currently five candidates vying for a starting spot this fall, the reality is that the battle will be between three quarterbacks: seventh-year veteran Jack Tuttle, senior Davis Warren and junior Alex Orji.
While Tuttle clearly has the edge in terms of experience, the prevailing opinion is that Orji currently has the edge. Worryingly, however, Orji has only attempted one pass in his first two years in Ann Arbor, and while he has proven he can be an extremely effective runner, his ability to move the ball through the air consistently remains a big unknown. Tuttle, on the other hand, has completed 119 passes and thrown for over 1,000 yards in his six years at the collegiate level. The biggest concern with Tuttle is not his experience, but his productivity. With Davis Warren, the concern is both a lack of experience and productivity at the collegiate level. He has had more opportunities to showcase his passing ability compared to Orji, but his career numbers after three seasons are underwhelming (5 of 14 for 89 yards and 1 interception).
The good news is that Michigan’s offense doesn’t typically rely heavily on the passing game, and there’s no indication the QB1 will have to carry a heavy load this fall. The Wolverines don’t need explosiveness in the air (although that would be nice), they just need consistency and efficiency. If they can get that with any of the above options, Michigan’s chances of winning the conference championship for the fourth straight year increase significantly. If not, it could be a long and painful season.
2. Middle
After relying on a new transfer for two seasons, the Michigan Wolverines’ starting center in 2024 will be a Michigan recruit – and it looks like it will be senior Greg Crippen. As a junior in 2023, he appeared in nine games at center and has played in 15 games total in his first three seasons. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound IMG Academy product waited behind two transfers (Olu Oluwatimi and Drake Nugent) for his turn, and the fact that Michigan didn’t pursue another transfer in the offseason proves they have a lot of faith in Crippen.
In addition to Crippen, senior Raheem Anderson is another player who provides some depth at the center position, and it seems likely that his role will increase in 2024. In three seasons, Anderson has played six games at the center position, but he only appeared in one game in the 2023 season.
Of course, the center position on the offensive line is crucial, which is why Michigan has made a point of filling that role with experienced transfers over the past two seasons. If Crippen stays healthy and plays at the level of his two predecessors, that will go a long way toward a successful season.
3. Offensive Tackle
Speaking of the offensive line, the tackle position is also a bit of a question mark – at least on one side. Fifth-year OT Myles Hinton is virtually certain to start at left tackle after appearing in 13 games with four starts for the Wolverines in 2023. On the right side, it appears to be a battle between junior Andrew Gentry and graduate student Jeffrey Persi.
Gentry (6’1″, 315 pounds) and Persi (6’1″, 315 pounds) combined to make 12 appearances on the offensive line in 2023, splitting time as left and right tackle. This will be one of the most important battles to keep an eye on throughout fall camp, and it’s a battle that will surely play a big role in Michigan’s success on offense in 2024.
4.Cornerback
Like in 2023, the Michigan Wolverines are looking for a cornerback to counter Will Johnson in the 2024 season. Sherrone Moore and his team not only had the luxury of being able to bring back veterans and young talent, but were also extremely aggressive in their search for defensive backs in the transfer portal.
One of those transfers is FCS All-American cornerback Amir Hall. Some scoff at the idea that a former FCS player can come to the Big Ten and immediately become an impact player, but Hall’s film is full of plays that translate very well to the FBS level. In the 2023 season, Hall accounted for 57 tackles, five interceptions and 13 passes defensed. He doesn’t necessarily have elite speed, but he more than makes up for it with his physicality and ball skills.
In addition to Hall, guys like Jyaire Hill, Ja’Den McBurrows, Ricky Johnson (UNLV transfer), Kody Jones and Keshaun Harris are also in the running for major spots this fall. The good news is that Michigan has plenty of options in fall camp.
