Who’s commanding more playing time heading into the summer?
Heading into the 2024 Michigan spring football game, there were plenty of questions about who would be stepping up to replace much of the lost production on the offensive side of the ball. Gone are mainstays like J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Roman Wilson, and the top six offensive linemen from the 2023 team are all headed to the next level.
Those are some scary prospects for a program looking to maintain its status as a title contender.
On Saturday, we got some answers by seeing who broke out with big performances and who was heavily featured in the offensive attack. So while we might not be able to fully see the vision that Sherrone Moore and Kirk Campbell have for the offense yet, we now know who the key contributors could be.
With what we saw on Saturday in mind, here’s a look at what the offensive depth chart could be heading into the summer.
Quarterback
Starter – Alex Orji; Depth – Davis Warren, Jayden Denegal, Jadyn Davis, Jack Tuttle
Alex Orji has been penciled in as the starting quarterback for much of the offseason by fans, and it’s certainly warranted. Orji offers a level of skill with his legs that none of the other quarterbacks on this team have, which would fit nicely with Sherrone Moore’s run-heavy style. However, some concerns about his accuracy as a passer keep the quarterback battle far from settled.
Davis Warren was the best passer on Saturday, making throws to all levels of the field and showing good awareness and mobility in the pocket. His performance should lead fans to believe that he’s firmly in the race to be Michigan’s QB1 when the fall rolls around.
Davis Warren
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 20, 2024
Behind Orji and Warren, Jayden Denegal had a rough outing, particularly in the second half, completing just 2-of-6 passes for 39 yards and one interception. Jadyn Davis completed 2-of-4 passes and took a sack. It’s reasonable to think that Michigan isn’t going to rush his development despite his pedigree as a recruit.
Running Back
Starters – Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings; Depth – Benjamin Hall, Tavi Dunlap, Jordan Marshall, Cole Cabana
Running back hasn’t been much of a concern this offseason thanks to the return of Donovan Edwards. Michigan is likely to utilize a committee approach this year with him and senior Kalel Mullings getting the lion’s share of the carries. Edwards was used sparingly in the game, but looked good, picking up 33 yards on five carries. Mullings went for 16 yards on five carries.
Last year’s spring game standout, Benjamin Hall didn’t have as good of a showing this year, while Tavi Dunlap was the game’s leading rusher with 66 yards on 15 carries. Dunlap showed some nice burst and the ability to make defenders miss. As a part of the battle for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, he could find the field more during his senior season.
Freshman Jordan Marshall didn’t enroll early and didn’t participate in the game, and neither did sophomore Cole Cabana. Marshall could be the wild card here, as he has loads of talent as a four-star recruit, but he’ll need a big summer in order to get meaningful snaps in his first year.
Wide Receiver
Starters – Semaj Morgan, Tyler Morris, Fred Moore; Depth – Kendrick Bell, Peyton O’Leary, I’Marion Stewart
Wide receiver was one of the positions to watch heading into Saturday’s game, especially after Darius Clemons and Karmello English hit the transfer portal. Some concerns were temporarily put to rest though with some great showings from Fred Moore and Kendrick Bell, who were both on the receiving ends of touchdown passes from Davis Warren.
.@FredrickMoore6_ turned on the jets!
@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/pJDQT73riu
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 20, 2024
Moore showcased his speed and ability to get open and has been getting some rave reviews this offseason. Bell meanwhile, offers plenty of intrigue as one of the bigger receivers in the room, standing at 6-foot-2.
Semaj Morgan and Tyler Morris didn’t exactly pop but there’s no reason to bump either down from the top two spots on the depth chart, other than if Fred Moore’s ascension continues. This position could still probably use an addition in the transfer portal, simply to add some size and more depth.
Tight End
Starters – Colston Loveland, Marlin Klein, Max Bredeson (H-Back); Depth – Deakon Tonielli, Zack Marshall, Brady Prieskorn, Hogan Hansen;
Tight end is another position where there hasn’t been much concern this offseason, simply because Colston Loveland is back and figures to be one of the nation’s best at the position this year. Loveland made two receptions for 14 yards early in the game and wasn’t featured much thereafter.
Marlin Klein however, made some waves on the field and looks poised to take over A.J. Barner’s role as the No. 2 guy at the position. Klein has long been talked about as an athletic specimen, who might finally get to show what he can do this year. He and Loveland could make a scary one-two-punch for opposing defenses, while Max Bredeson has the H-back spot locked up.
Behind those three, there’s Deakon Tonielli, who had one reception for 35 yards, and Zack Marshall who had three receptions for 24 yards. Neither of Michigan’s two freshmen, Hogan Hansen or Brady Prieskorn, really stood out in the game, but both can improve their stock with strong performances in camp.
Offensive Line
Starters – Myles Hinton, Gio El-Hadi, Greg Crippen, Josh Priebe, Andrew Gentry; Depth – Jeffrey Persi, Raheem Anderson, Tristan Bounds, Amier Herring, Evan Link, Connor Jones, Dominick Guidice
With Michigan needing to break in five new starters up front, the offensive line will continue to be a position to monitor throughout the offseason and into the fall. Don’t be surprised either if this is a position that Sherrone Moore and co. look to attack in the transfer portal to gain some more experience and depth.
Northwestern transfer Josh Priebe and Gio El-Hadi both didn’t play in the game but should have the guard spots locked up at this point. Additionally, Greg Crippen impressed on the field on Saturday. He’d been penciled in as the starter at center, but it’s looking more and more like we can set it in stone at this point.
The tackle spots are where things get more interesting. Myles Hinton struggled last year when he was on the field, but he’ll be relied on to take a step forward to help solidify the front. Meanwhile, Andrew Gentry and Jeffrey Persi should be battling it out for the other tackle spot throughout the summer and fall.
The competition should still yield a formidable starting five once the start of the season rolls around, but this is still a spot where some depth from the transfer portal might be welcomed.