Sherrone Moore identifies which freshmen could play right away for Michigan

The Michigan football lineup is going to look quite different in 2024, especially on offense. And new head coach Sherrone Moore sees pathways for plenty of newcomers to playing.

Speaking with media after a recent fall camp practice, Moore predicted a number of freshmen could play in 2024. That includes true freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis as the Wolverines seeks to replace J.J. McCarthy.

“There’s a couple of them,” Moore said. “Start at quarterback position, Jadyn Davis. He has the it factor. Makes plays. Competitive, obviously was a three-time state champion. Player of the year. Poise. Has ability. We’ll see how it progresses.”

While Davis will likely have to beat out a number of older, more seasoned players to get meaningful reps at quarterback, if any, in 2024, other spots on the offense will certainly have freshmen contributing. Moore leaned on a common coaching point in explaining who will play: The further one is from the ball on a given play, the easier it is for them to play at an early point.

So for the receivers, tight ends and defensive backs, playing time can be easier to come by.

“His teammate, Channing Goodwin,” Moore said, continuing by highlighting one of Davis’ high school receivers. “He’s a playmaker, he’s a dude that’s going to probably help us this year in some way, shape or form. And always said that’s it’s easier to play the farther you are from the ball, especially early. If you’re a lineman, D lineman, it’s harder to play early. So those guys, those guys up front, especially O linemen, it’s harder for them to play early and they’re all going to be to really good players but those two, from a skillset standpoint, I think offensively would be the guys. And then the tight ends have been awesome. Jordan Marshall is probably the next guy. I think he’s got a chance to be special. Dynamic.”

Marshall, the No. 87 player in the 2024 class and top overall recruit in Michigan’s class according to the On3 Industry ranking, could carve out a role as the No. 3 back behind Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Moore said. “Ben Hall is — having guys like Jordan Marshall in the room will make you play fast and physical and Ben Hall is a player, all of 230 pounds, he is. So he’s run physical, fast. Super excited where he — how he’s gaining momentum.”

And defensively, Moore highlighted two freshmen he could see making early impacts: Edge rusher Dominic Nichols and linebacker Cole Sullivan.

“Dominic Nichols is probably the guy that jumps out the most as a freshman,” Moore said. “Because he’s been here in the spring and he came here and he’s been in the fall, so he’s a guy that I think, as a freshman, has got a chance. And then probably one more guy is Cole Sullivan.”