Spring Check-In: Michigan moves forward with Sherrone Moore

Inside Texas has made sure to check in with beat writers covering SEC schools for On3 affiliates to learn more about the Longhorns’ new conference mates. But there’s a non-conference game in early September against the Michigan Wolverines that awaits Texas before the Horns embark on their debut campaign in the SEC.

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Clayton Sayfie, staff writer for The Wolverine, took the time to answer a few questions about the Michigan Wolverines ahead of Sherrone Moore’s first season as head coach. Texas faces Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. on September 7.

1. What’s the feeling around the program with Sherrone Moore taking over for Jim Harbaugh?

That things are different but also the same. The main piece is that the players have said they’re not allowing the culture to change at all, even though Harbaugh and the entire defensive staff departed the program. There’s been a trickle-down effect over the last few years, with leaders moving on and passing the torch. They’re hoping that continues even with the staff. 

2. What is the spring storyline to track on offense for the Wolverines (transfers, star recruits, coaches coming and going, etc.)?

Michigan is searching for a quarterback, and it’s the main talking point surrounding the team. There are legitimately five players in the mix right now — graduate Jack Tuttle, senior Davis Warren, juniors Jayden Denegal and Alex Orji and freshman Jadyn Davis. However, someone is going to have to prove they’re a starting-caliber signal-caller, separating from the pack. Otherwise, it’s widely believed that Michigan will pursue a transfer once the portal opens in mid-April.

3. What’s the spring storyline to track on defense for the Wolverines?

The returning talent, because there’s a lot of it. Michigan has perhaps the best defensive tackle duo in the country in juniors Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, an All-American cornerback in Will Johnson and talent around that trio. 

The ironic part about all the changes this offseason is that the entire defensive staff turned over, but the personnel is made up of familiar faces. On the flip side, the Wolverines lost 10 starters on offense but have largely the same coaches in place, with Moore having been the coordinator last season.

New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale will have his own style, even if he runs the same defensive system that Michigan has used over the last three years under his former proteges Mike Macdonald (2021) and Jesse Minter (2022-23). I’m curious to see how much more aggressive Martindale will call games.

Another big storyline is that senior safety Rod Moore — PFF’s No. 7 returning safety in the country this season — reportedly tore his ACL in one of the team’s first couple spring practices. He’s an absolute difference-maker that Michigan will have to replace. They have solid talent there but not a game-changer like Moore.

4. Which returner from the 2023 roster was the most important for Michigan?

It’s between Johnson and Grant, but I’ll go with the former. A legacy kid whose father, Deon, played defensive back at Michigan, Will is one of the top leaders on the team as only a junior — and he’s an elite player. He was the Defensive MVP of the national championship game, coming up with a huge pick to begin the third quarter in a 34-13 win over Washington, and was great all around last season. He should take an even bigger step forward this year. 

5. Which transfer portal addition was the most important for Michigan?

Michigan only added two transfers that entered the portal in the December window in junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham (Maryland) and graduate offensive guard Josh Priebe (Northwestern), and both will start this fall. Just because the Wolverines seem to have enough capable bodies on the offensive line, I’ll say Barham was the biggest pickup. He’s a great athlete who made a bunch of dazzling plays at Maryland and could realize his potential at Michigan. He’s still picking up the playbook but has already impressed quite a bit this spring, from what we’ve heard.

6. Which class of 2024 signing was the most important for Michigan? 

Top-100 running back Jordan Marshall. He’s not just a high-end player who could be the next in a long line of great Michigan running backs, but the Wolverines also plucked him out of Cincinnati — a rare recruiting win in Ohio for a team not named Ohio State. He arrives in the summer but can earn a role this fall, even with quite a bit of talent and depth already residing in that room.

7. The game U-M fans have circled on the 2024 schedule (aside from The Game) is…

The Texas game, and I’m not just saying it because this interview is for the best Texas fan site out there. I think the Sept. 7 matchup at The Big House is Michigan’s second-most difficult contest of the season, even ahead of the Nov. 2 home tilt versus Oregon. 

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The Longhorns return quite a bit of production, including at quarterback with Quinn Ewers, and brought in talented transfers. They know what they are, while Michigan might be figuring things out — at least on offense — at the beginning of the year. That’ll make for a challenging task.

SEC Spring Check-Ins

• Mississippi State: Jeff Lebby begins a new era
• Texas A&M: Aggies start over with Mike Elko ahead of the return of the rivalry
• Ole Miss: The Rebels are going for it all in 2024
• Florida: A pivotal year three awaits Billy Napier at Florida
• Georgia: UGA looks to assert itself as top-dawg in new-look SEC
• LSU: With Jayden Daniels moving on, what’s next for Brian Kelly?
• Kentucky: Wildcats move forward with new faces at QB & OC under Mark Stoops
• Tennessee: Volunteers have a new quarterback and a whole lot of optimism
• South Carolina: Shane Beamer looking to rebound with several new faces on offense