With the 2024 season on the horizon, these three Michigan players need to get off to a fast start to keep the repeat National Championship dreams alive.
The pressure is on.
The excitement is in the air for the 2024 season to begin as the Michigan Wolverines look to defend their National Championship title.
A lot of focus has been put on the Michigan players who have departed from the team after the 2023 season, but there are many players that are looking to make a name for themselves throughout the 2024 season in the hopes of getting drafted to the NFL and becoming ‘Michigan legends’ for years to come.
The Wolverines have lost key players at very important positions, but the men next in line are looking to get off to a fast start to keep the championship dreams alive for Michigan in head coach Sherrone Moore’s first season.
3. Jyaire Hill
Will Johnson is the consensus top cornerback for the Wolverines, but the other defensive backs will be heavily looked upon to lock down receivers early on in the season.
Michigan was been fortunate enough to get production from Mike Sainristil, Josh Wallace and DJ Waller Jr. last season, so there are big shoes to fill in 2024. There has been an ongoing competition going on between Jyaire Hill, Keshaun Harris, Myles Pollard and Aamir Hall, but Hill appears to be leading in the battle.
The former four-star prospect out of Illinois had nine interceptions and six forced fumbles during his junior year of high school, and he added three more interceptions, three forced fumbles, and 42 tackles playing mostly on defense his senior season, but he didn’t see the field much during his true freshman season under Jim Harbaugh. In 2023, Hill saw the field in four games to keep his redshirt status. In those limited snaps, he totaled eight tackles, 1.5 being for a loss.
With Wallace departing for the NFL Draft and Waller transferring to Kentucky, the second corner spot is open for the taking, and Hill has made a compelling argument in camp. Hill added 11 pounds to his 6-foot-2 frame over the offseason making him appear more college-ready for a larger role in 2024. While Fresno State shouldn’t be too much of a challenge, Hill will be thrown into the deep end in week 2 against Texas and will most likely face off against Houston transfer Matthew Golden who tallied 76 receptions for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons with the Cougars.
2. Dominic Zvada
One under-the-radar position that will be heavily looked at early on in the season will be the kicker. Michigan has thrown out Jake ‘Money’ Moody and James Turner in recent years to have one of the best special teams corps in the country. Going into 2024, Moore will most likely tap Zvada, a transfer from Arkansas State to carry the torch.
Kicking is half skill and half mental, and the jump from the Sun Belt Conference to the Big Ten is no joke. With Texas, USC, Washington and Oregon all on the horizon, the former Lou Groza Award semifinalist will need to be consistent and confident to keep the fans and the coaching staff on his side.
Zvada finished the 2023 season a perfect 41-for-41 on point after attempts, but only converted 17-of-22 field goal tries with a season-long of 51 yards compared to a more accurate 2022 campaign when he went 17-of-18 on field goal attempts.
1. Donovan Edwards
With Blake Corum moving on to the NFL, Edwards will be the go-to back for Michigan in 2024 for the first time. The former five-star and National Championship hero needs to show that he can handle the increased workload and be effective as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield.
Michigan’s non-conference games will be an opportunity for Edwards to build momentum. When starting in Corum’s absence in 2022, Edwards produced 216 rushing yards against Ohio State , 185 rushing yards against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game, and 119 rushing yards against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl , marking 173.3 rushing yards per game when he started for Michigan. He also scored two touchdowns against Washington in the 2024 National Championship. By putting up big numbers and making impactful plays early, he can set the tone for the rest of the season.
Edwards is known for his big-play ability. Getting off to a fast start will involve breaking off long runs and making defenders miss in the open field. This will not only boost his confidence but also put pressure on opposing defenses. The one caveat will be health from Edwards early on in the season. With an increased role, Edwards will need to prove that he can stay healthy throughout the season.
As an upperclassman and one of the most experienced players on the offense, Edwards will need to take on a leadership role. Encouraging his teammates, setting a positive example, and leading by performance will help galvanize the team.