The position battles appear to be very close.
The Michigan Wolverines spring game is set for this Saturday at noon on FOX. With plenty of hype coming from winning the National Championship in January, there are many questions surrounding the current state of the program and who will step up in the absence of the players who have entered the NFL Draft .
With a completely new coaching staff, quarterback, offensive line and wide receiver room (just to name a few changes), the Wolverines will have a lot to prove in order to run it back in 2024.
While Jim Harbaugh departed for the Los Angeles Chargers , new head coach Sherrone Moore has kept many things intact from the previous regime, including the fierce nature of practices.
The Wolverines prided themselves on practicing harder than anyone so the games felt easier. This led to Michigan going undefeated and winning a National Championship, so it’s safe to say the strategy worked. By going all out Tuesday through Thursday and resting on Friday , Michigan stayed fresh for Saturdays, but still had game-like practices through the week to prepare them. While it is unclear what the exact schedule in the offseason has been, Moore has ramped up practices to the point where players feel like they are in the middle of the season in April.
Josh Priebe, a transfer offensive lineman from Northwestern, attested to the intensity of practice at Michigan compared to his past experiences.
“It’s been very competitive,” Priebe said. “The practice style is definitely different compared to what I was used to, but I think it’s been really good for me as a player. I feel like I’ve been able to grow and develop.
“I would just say the intensity overall. With certain things, there’s more time invested and certainly with the practices, they’re longer, there’s more hitting, there’s more physical contact. I think that’s one of those things that I know is going to make me better as a player. And the practices here, I can already tell are going to make the games feel a lot easier.”
With more returning starters on defense than offense, some believe the defense has an early leg up this spring. Nonetheless, the competition pushes everyone on the field, and many believe they are playing better because of it.
“Michigan’s always been iron sharpens iron,” tight end Max Bredeson said. “Good guys go against good guys. We have the classic ‘Beat Ohio’ drill, like that’s the staple of Michigan football. ‘Quest to Atlanta’ drill, the same thing, just physical practices, one on ones. When you’re practicing against guys who could be better than the guys who we play during the season, it just helps everyone get better. So I’d say it’s still as physical as it’s ever been.”
Running back Kalel Mullings agreed with Bredeson’s sentiment that iron sharpens iron. The offense prepares the defense for the rigors of the season and vice versa.
“The defense is definitely throwing some things at us right now, but at the same time, the great thing about it is that we’re all getting better,” Mullings said. “We’re testing them and they’re testing us every single day. And it’s really been, in my opinion, honestly, throughout my time, this past spring ball has really been one of the most competitive and challenging both ways.
“It’s always just a process, especially in the spring of just getting each other better and making sure we’re all prepared to take that field together and beat some teams in the fall.”
Every guy on the roster is hungry to prove themself to the entire coaching staff. While the spring game is a small sample size, it is a big way for players to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves.