ESPN places Michigan No. 5 in three-year future power rankings
The Michigan Wolverines are kicking off a new era of the program under head coach Sherrone Moore and appear to have a bright future ahead of them. Many of the tenants of the Jim Harbaugh era will remain, but with new touches as the sport and the team move into an expanded Big Ten and College Football Playoff.
ESPN recently did its future power rankings for the next three seasons, where Moore’s Wolverines come in at No. 5 overall among national powers.
Here’s what writer Adam Rittenberg said about Michigan:
The defending champions are oddly one of the harder teams to project because of who departs Ann Arbor, both on the field and on the sideline. Michigan would be lower in a one-year projection after saying goodbye to a team-record 13 players selected in the NFL draft, as well as Harbaugh and several vital assistants, such as defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert. New head coach Sherrone Moore played a huge role in Michigan’s rise the past three seasons, but he has never led a program and only became a coordinator in 2021. Moore’s first team is fascinating, as it includes several higher-level draft prospects — cornerback Will Johnson, tight end Colston Loveland, defensive linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — but significant questions at quarterback, offensive line and other spots.
Offensively, Michigan has a chance to maintain the philosophy it set the last few years with Moore leading the charge. The future looks bright, but there are some short term questions to answer, writes Rittenberg.
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Moore’s short-term work with the offense he oversaw will be critical, as Michigan must support an unproven quarterback — Alex Orji or another candidate — this fall. Myles Hinton is the only returning offensive lineman with significant starting experience at Michigan, although Northwestern transfer Josh Priebe should help immediately. Michigan’s track record up front under Moore suggests success in the future. The same goes for spots such as tight end and running back, where Donovan Edwards gets his chance to be the featured ball carrier in 2024. Veteran Kalel Mullings is back to play behind Edwards, and Benjamin Hall or incoming freshman Jordan Marshall which will help beyond this season. Tight end Brady Prieskorn, ESPN’s No. 72 recruit for 2024, is set to take over for Loveland. A revamped wide receiver room is worth watching, especially multiyear players like Semaj Morgan and Fredrick Moore, and Amorion Walker, who transferred back to Michigan from Ole Miss. The team’s recruiting at receiver will be worth watching.
The defense is what gives Michigan its best shot to maintain its contention window well into the future, and Rittenberg agrees. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s system should be an interesting mesh with the talent returning to Ann Arbor.
Michigan will be led by its defense, at least initially, as the front seven projects well with Graham, Grant, Josaiah Stewart, Derrick Moore, Rayshaun Benny and others up front, as a linebacker group featuring holdover Ernest Hausmann and adding Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham. The Wolverines have been targeted in the portal with a strong hit rate, and added four defensive back transfers in the spring — Aamir Hall (Albany), Ricky Johnson (UNLV), Wesley Walker (Louisville) and Jaden Mangham (Michigan State). They join holdovers like Will Johnson and safeties Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson in a unit now being overseen by veteran NFL coordinator Wink Martindale.
Michigan opens the season on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET against Fresno State. Vegas currently has the Wolverines listed as 22.5-point favorites.
