They stayed.
They became national champions.
And now the Michigan Wolverines will kick off the first outing of their title defense against the Fresno State Bulldogs this Saturday in a nationally televised night game on NBC.
But this year’s iteration of Wolverines football will look a lot different from past years. Shortly after winning the championship, the program lost head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the LA Chargers. Then in the spring, Michigan saw 13 starters leave for the NFL via the draft, including quarterback JJ McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, wide receiver Roman Wilson and defensive back Mike Sainristil.
The turnover does little to curb the expectations placed on the rebuilding group. The Wolverines remained in the Top 10 in the preseason AP Poll (#9), and will face the likes of Texas (#4), Oregon (#3), and Ohio State (#2) throughout the regular season.
Taking the head coaching reins from Harbaugh is former offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who also holds the distinction of being the first African American granted the role in Michigan history. The program elevated then-QB coach Kirk Campbell to OC and brought in Don ‘Wink’ Martindale, a name synonymous around the NFL – having served as a DC with the Broncos, Ravens, and most recently, the Giants, to replace Minter as defensive coordinator.
Most notable among returning talent on the roster are cornerback Will Johnson (who is projected out as the top defensive player in the country), tight end Colston Loveland (the nation’s leading tight prospect) and running back Donovan Edwards (one of three cover athletes for ‘College Football 25’). But the question of who will claim the starting role at quarterback has loomed since McCarthy’s departure. In an interview with WXYZ’s Brad Galli earlier this week, Moore elected to maintain the veil of secrecy on whether Alex Orji or Davis Warren had earned the job for the team’s opening matchup.
“Orji. His size. His athletic ability. But as a thrower, he’s been so good in camp,” Moore said. “He’s taking care of the football. Got a great arm. The big thing for him was making the throws that he should make all the time, and he’s started to do that. And Davis Warren, man, he’s so good. He’s always been able to throw the ball, but it’s been about taking care of the football in the right way, and he’s done that throughout camp. Every practice he makes a ‘wow’ play. Some plays that JJ would make.”
Michigan (#9) hosts Fresno State, Saturday at 7:30pm EST.
