With a 'generational athlete' at QB, 'beast' at WR and stable of running backs, the Michigan offense is 'gonna be explosive'

Split into two teams in Saturday’s spring game — Maize and Blue — the Michigan Wolverines football offense put up 17 points, 7 of which came by way of trick play as time expired.

Blue beat Maize, 17-0, in an intrasquad scrimmage with nothing on the line other than pride and a trip to Texas de Brazil, a Brazilian steakhouse. That’s why sophomore running back Jordan Marshall, a member of a Maize team that was shut out, was able to laugh it off. He’s confident in the Michigan offense, in part because of the level of competition it faces in practices, going against what’s expected to be one of the top defenses in America.

“Everybody on defense is really good,” Marshall said, exhaling a laugh. “I don’t know, we wanted to run the ball, and I think we ran the ball well. We just didn’t have any explosives.

“But we’re going against, I think, whoever is out there is the best defense in the country. That’s a privilege that I get to go against every single day.”

In 15 spring practices, the Michigan offense didn’t have many “wins” over the defense, even though the group had its moments. The Wolverines had a great defense in 2024 — particularly at the end of the season — but a poor offense. New coordinator Chip Lindsey is tasked with leading a turnaround, and there was a lot of ground to make up when he took over.

“Maybe one. Maybe two,” Marshall said of the amount of ‘wins.’ “And that says something. The saying ‘defense wins championships’ is real. When we won in ‘23, that defense was like that. 

“And we move the ball on them — don’t get me wrong — and it’s back and forth. But it’s great going against this defense. When I’m out there, I’m like, I’m not gonna see a better linebacker corps, I’m not gonna see a better front line of guys, the DBs — B-Hill, 7, [junior safety TJ] Metcalf, coming downhill. These guys fly around.

“It’s a privilege to go against them every single day. It’s gonna make us so much better, and these teams we play aren’t gonna know what to do.”

Michigan lost two of its most important players on its dismal 2024 offense in tight end Colston Loveland and running back Kalel Mullings. They have to be replaced, but there are worthy candidates to do so. The offensive line is a question mark, in addition, perhaps the biggest concern on the unit.

“I feel really confident,” Marshall said of the Michigan offense. “I trust every single guy, whoever’s out there on the field, and I think that says something to our staff, our culture, that we can put anybody out there.

“I mean, you saw [junior tight end Jalen] Hoffman [Saturday]. You put him out there, and he balled out. The only tight end on the Blue team, and he did his thing. When you’re thrown out there, that’s how you find out if you’re a dawg. And that’s a dawg. You can do that to any of our players.”

The offensive line may need time to mesh, but Marshall is a believer in the men up front.

“If you put them together, it’s gonna be really good,” the Michigan running back said. “I think they just need to jell together as a unit, and they’re going to. You’ve got [graduate left guard] Gio[vanni El-Hadi] leading them, and I think [sophomore right tackle] Andrew [Sprague] is gonna lead them this year.

“But they’re going to do great. They’re going to do great, and we’re going to pound the rock.”

‘Freak’ Bryce Underwood is a ‘generational athlete’

Pounding the rock is a staple of the Michigan offense, but Lindsey was brought in to open up the passing game, in part.

Every player that’s spoken this spring has said the Wolverines are throwing the ball more in practice. That’s scheme and philosophy driven, no doubt, but also because of who’s behind center. Freshman Bryce Underwood — the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class, a five-star+ prospect — has been impressive in his first spring in Ann Arbor.

“Right when Bryce got here for the bowl game prep was just on a line — focused,” Marshall said. “From that day on, it was like, we can trust this kid. You can tell that he has a sense of maturity, and he doesn’t feed into the pressure. He knows who he is, and he’s OK with who he is. I think building that relationship with God and his family and his coaches, he’s secure with who he is, so I trust him.

“Even when you’re on the field, you know, but it’s when you’re outside the field — when you’re walking around, when you’re talking to him, when you’re playing basketball, shooting hoops, eating. There’s something about the kid, and that’s who we recruit here.

“We recruit guys instead of players, and it just so happens he’s an amazing athlete and player. But the guys we have in our locker room, that’s what’s more important. To be around a guy who gives back, who loves his teammates, who puts his team over himself, you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

Humble, hungry and talented is a good combination. Underwood has earned the respect of his Michigan teammates and may help take the offense to the next level.

“I think he’s a generational athlete,” Marshall said. “He’s a freak. He can do anything he puts his mind to, and I think you want to have that swagger at quarterback. I appreciate having somebody like that. Even with [junior running back] Justice [Haynes], they all have that swagger; they have it.

“Just to be around those guys and like-minded guys, it’s gonna be scary this year.”

That “generational athlete,” or whoever plays quarterback for Michigan, could help the run game by keeping defenses honest.

“It’s great knowing that we’re not going to have to run into, hopefully, 10, 8, 9 people boxes, and we can spread them out,” Marshall said. “And we’re not going for me and Justice having 20 carries each and [junior Bryson] Kuz[dzal] has 10.

“Hopefully, we’re at the point where we can all get some carries, we’re all limited to a certain point and we get the ball out to [graduate wide receiver] Donaven [McCulley], [graduate tight end Max] Bred[eson], [senior tight end] Marlin [Klein], everybody that’s going to catch the ball, and everybody has an opportunity to show.”

The explosiveness of the offense has been mentioned by numerous members of the Michigan program ever since Lindsey jumped on board. The potential is there because of the scheme and some individuals that are standing out. In addition to Underwood, Marshall, Haynes and others, McCulley has been a favorite of his teammates this spring.

“This offense is gonna be explosive,” Marshall said. “You saw us take some shots [Saturday]. Obviously, the play book is watered down and everything, but we’re gonna take some shots — and Donaven, No. 13, he’s a beast. He’s a beast. He’s like that.”