Spring practices kick off today for Michigan Football, and there is plenty of excitement heading into Year 2 of the Sherrone Moore era. But questions do remain that need to be answered before the fall. Here are 5 burning questions we have:
While the Michigan basketball team gets ready for the NCAA Tournament, the football program will be back on the field starting today for spring practices.
This practice time is crucial, especially for program losing high end talent to the NFL Draft . At the same time, a consensus top-10 freshman class comes into Ann Arbor, with many — including No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood — being early enrollees.
There’s plenty to be excited for, but there are always questions that need to be answered before Aug. 30 rolls around. Here are five burning questions for the spring.
No. 5: Where is Jaishawn Barham spending the majority of his time?
A key piece of how the Michigan defense shapes out is dependent on where Jaishawn Barham is lining up. In 2024, Wink Martindale utilized him as more of a traditional middle linebacker, but many have questioned if his skillset and 6-foot-3, 250-pound frame is better suited for an edge rusher role.
The best time to test out theories like this — especially for a guy who has started 36 career games at a more traditional linebacker role — is during the spring. The amount of time he is spending with the other edge rushers in comparison to middle linebackers will be key to understanding his role in 2025 and how it may impact some of the other up-and-coming players on the team.
Jimmy Rolder’s development will certainly be an important component in deciding where Barham takes most of his snaps. Rolder was impressive last season as a rotational piece and is an ascending player.
Where Barham fits in should be interesting, so we will keep an eye on this in the spring.
No. 4: What is the rotation looking like at RB?
All eyes will be on top transfer portal running back Justice Haynes in his first couple practices. But lest we forget redshirt freshman Jordan Marshall is coming off a 100-yard performance against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. These two will split carries in 2025, but the spring should give us a taste at seeing who is the leader in the room.
Haynes didn’t come to Michigan to be a backup, as he was buried in a deep Alabama running back room the last two seasons. But his addition to what exists in Ann Arbor is going to make snaps difficult for the others in the room, but especially redshirt sophomore Benjamin Hall. Finding out how these three rank after the spring will be crucial to understanding the run game this fall.
No. 3: How much does Rod Moore practice, if at all?
It’s been almost a full year since safety Rod Moore tore his ACL, a detrimental loss to the 2024 campaign for one of the most important players on defense.
However, it appears he is not fully out of the clear yet. Martindale was asked about Moore on In The Trenches earlier this month, and alluded to Moore not even running yet. That’s an incredibly tough blow for a position fans considered to be shored up.
Luckily, safety is a deep position for the Wolverines. TJ Metcalf transferred in from Arkansas, while Jaren Mangham came from Michigan State the year prior. There is young talent with Brandyn Hillman and Mason Curtis showing flashes in 2024. We’ll likely see and hear quite a bit of these four whether or not Moore is on the field at all this spring.
No. 2: Who are the QBs throwing the ball to?
Michigan knew it needed to revolutionize its passing attack this offseason, which is why Sherrone Moore and company ponied up to flip Bryce Underwood, snagged Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene from the portal and hired new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey to right the ship.
On a quieter note, Moore added some important veteran pass catchers from the portal. Donaven MccCulley is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who had 48 catches for 644 yards and six touchdowns on a bad Indiana football team two years ago. Then, Anthony Simpson, who was coached by current Michigan tight end coach Steve Casula at UMass, had 792 yards and three touchdowns on 57 receptions in 2023.
Semaj Morgan and Fred Moore were once praised as true freshmen, but neither have broken out to be seen as a go-to receiver. With two new quarterbacks and a different scheme, maybe that will change.
No matter who it is, this unit must be much better in 2025, and the spring will give us our first glance at how much better it will be.
No. 1: Just how great is Bryce Underwood?
This is the question everyone wants to know. The superstar prospect is one of the most hyped quarterbacks in years, drawing comparisons to Cam Newton and Vince Young.
He told Rich Eisen last week he has put on 15 pounds since the end of his high school senior season to prepare. He also said he expects to win Heismans and national championships. Yes, both with an “s” at the end.
Being an early enrollee is only going to help. Keene is no small competitor, having started 36 career games and having experience working with Lindsey at UCF.
Moore has not been in this predicament before, but everyone knows the ongoing battle that happened between Cade McNamara and J.J. McCarthy in 2022. Underwood is the superior prospect, but it would not be a shock for Keene to be the Week 1 starter even if the fans are clamoring for Underwood.
There’s no doubt Underwood has a huge ceiling, but how large is the delta between that and where he is right now? Coming out of the spring, we will have a sense about just how good the No. 1 recruit in college football is.