Spring ball is set to start for the Michigan Wolverines in the next few weeks. Here are some of the players we’re most excited to hear about once football gets going again:
The Michigan Wolverines have a lot of excitement building — a five-star quarterback, a transfer quarterback with a ton of college experience, a new offensive coordinator, two potential star running backs, and a defense returning loads of talent.
I get the argument the spring is for talk, and you’ll believe it when you see results on the field. But come on, it’s football — Michigan football, at that. How can you not get excited about practices starting up soon?
Today, we’ll discuss five players we are excited to hear more about this spring.
Safety Rod Moore
Moore missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a torn ACL, but him returning for one more season is a big deal. He’ll be one of the leaders on this team, and while he certainly played a mentor/leadership role last year, he’ll actually be able to use his talents on the field again this season. I will be curious to hear about his recovery and how he is doing now about a year removed from the injury happening.
OL Andrew Babalola
It’s no secret Michigan’s offensive line had some work to do in the offseason after its 2024 performance. While some of the returning starters improved over the course of the year, there’s still some uncertainty heading into 2025. It’s rare for a true freshman to make an instant impact along the offensive line, but Babalola — a five-star recruit — could have a chance at getting into the two-deep this fall. It’ll be exciting to hear if coaches bring up Babalola unprompted this spring and highlight how he’s doing for a first-year player.
RB Justice Haynes
Jordan Marshall is likely RB1, but since we saw some of what he can do in the bowl game, I’m more excited about Haynes, who rushed for 448 yards and seven touchdowns at Alabama a season ago. He also had 99 yards on 17 receptions, showcasing some versatility at the position. How he’s performing and fitting in with Chip Lindsey’s system will help add some clarity to the offensive pieces we’re going to see this fall.
QB Bryce Underwood
After Michigan’s quarterback situation last season — especially all the hype for each guy — it’ll be a little challenging to take the coaching staff’s word for it when it comes to the guys they have this offseason. However, it’ll never not be exciting to hear about the No. 1 overall recruit in the country. Underwood will have a chance to win the starting job right away, so it will be interesting to hear what the coaches have to say about how Underwood is approaching the position battle, how he is practicing with the team, and much more.
QB Mikey Keene
Lindsey has worked with Keene in the past, and it’ll be interesting to hear Lindsey’s assessment of Keene’s growth during their time apart. Michigan needs a reliable option who can complete passes downfield, and Keene could definitely be that guy. I am looking forward to hearing Lindsey’s thoughts on the reunion in Ann Arbor and what Keene brings to the table, even if Underwood wins the starting job.
Who are you looking forward to hearing about when spring practice gets underway? Let us know down in the comments!