There are still roughly six weeks until Michigan’s spring practice period begins, but it’s time to start looking at a few storylines that, while under-discussed, could have significant impacts on Team 146:
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Three under the radar spring ball storylines
This time of the year is rough for football fans. Sure, the NFL Combine is approaching, but that’s like craving a steak dinner and being served saltines. With the Super Bowl officially behind us, fans are starving for the real thing. Fortunately for college fans, spring ball is on the horizon. Albeit not a steak, spring football provides enough sustenance and optimism to help us survive the offseason.
Personally, spring ball has always been a favorite. Who doesn’t love a few weeks of fun speculation about positional battles culminating in a decently competitive scrimmage? Emerging players have a chance to flash star potential (Devin Bush, 2017). Players you fell in love with during recruiting reward your faith (Erick All, 2019). And Thursday practice All-Americans have a chance to deceive you for their entire career (Luiji Vilain!).
Approaching the 2025 spring game, the conversation has understandably started and ended with quarterback Bryce Underwood. Heavy lies the crown of being the top recruit in the country, and after watching Michigan’s service academy adjacent passing attack last season, this is the appropriate focal point. But what about the other storylines? The gravity of Underwood has distracted from other important questions and narratives to watch as the weather slowly (SLOWLY) warms up.
Here are three storylines to keep an eye on as the spring speculation starts to build.
Who’s on the chopping block?
Although optimism runs wild following the spring game, we also have to keep it real. Not everyone who participates is going to be on campus in the fall. Look no further than D.J. Waller last season. The young corner looked like a rockstar, but days following the game, he chose to transfer to Kentucky and make 13 tackles for a team that finished 4-8, including 1-7 in the SEC. Shame. It’s impossible to know who will transfer out after the game, yet we can easily identify positional log jams that can further facilitate roster turnover.
At wide receiver, there is a pack of unrealized potential. Semaj Morgan is trying to escape his sophomore slump. Frederick Moore is on a quest for consistency. Kendrick Bell wants to be more than Ronnie’s little brother. Peyton O’Leary is out to prove he’s more than a blocking try-hard. Amorion Walker is still on the team. I’Marion Stewart and Channing Goodwin are looking to carve out contributing roles as sophomores.
Not to mention early enrollee freshmen Andrew Marsh and Jamar Browder, who are out to upset the established hierarchy, and transfer Donaven McCulley, who was not added via the portal to hand out Gatorade. With this many players jockeying for position — not to mention more entering the room in the fall — and especially for a team that will never be pass-heavy, there are not enough touches to go around to keep everyone happy. Most of all receivers.
In the secondary, a similar bottleneck is occurring. Although Michigan wants to play a 4-2-5 scheme and rotate at every position, some players are going to want increased roles (i.e. Keon Sabb). Healthy Rod Moore is a lock (!!!) to start, and it feels like Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry — whose second-half surge last season could lead to All-Conference recognition this season — are also locks.
That leaves two starting spots for returners Mason Curtis, Brandyn Hillman, Jaden Mangham, Jo’Ziah Edmond and Ricky Johnson. In addition, transfers T.J. and Tevis Metcalf, and Caleb Anderson, and highly touted early enrollee freshmen Shamari Earls, Jayden Sanders, Jordan Young, Elijah Dotson and Kainoa Winston are all looking to skip the line and manifest destiny.
Beyond those two departure hotbeds, other transfer candidates include running back Benjamin Hall, quarterback Jadyn Davis, linebacker Jaydon Hood and defensive tackle Enow Etta. Football is a meritocracy and it’s safe to assume at least three of the names listed will not be on the team this fall.
Enough of this, let’s get to the fun stuff!
Starting five
The big uglies are the most important aspect of Michigan’s offense. It does not matter if Underwood is a combination of Vince Young and Jesus if he is not protected. Last year, it took the front longer than expected to gel, but they strung together their three best performances to close out the season. As did the entire offense, given the competition.
With three starters returning — four from the ReliaQuest Bowl — this group is expected to take a step forward this season. To help build upon this foundation and expedite growth, head coach Sherrone Moore brought in longtime NFL offensive line coach Juan Castillo as an analyst to help Grant Newsome’s room. But what will the starting five look like for the heart of the offense?
Early projections indicate Andrew Sprague and Evan Link will start at the tackle positions. However, there are some rumblings Link could kick inside, where he could possess a higher ceiling. But that might be a 2026 occurrence. Other names to watch in the spring are Blake Frazer and five-star freshman Andrew Babalola.
On the interior, for better or worse, it would be a shock if anyone other than Greg Crippen was starting at center. Flanking Crippen looks to be Giovanni El-Hadi, who is projected to move back to left guard after an underwhelming 2024 at right. Starting at right guard for the spring looks to be Cal Poly transfer Brady Norton, with Nathan Efobi and Jake Guarnera right behind him. Of the five positions, the right guard battle is the most up in the air.
Freshman tackle Ty Haywood and Ferris State transfer Lawrence Hattar will enter the battles in the fall. The freshmen and the transfers have the longest mountain to climb, but with so much unknown, so many new faces, and a fresh veteran voice in the room, we could see some unexpected movement on the depth chart.
Who will provide a spark in the return game?
Michigan has not returned a punt for a touchdown since A.J. Henning made a house call against UConn in 2022. As for a kick return touchdown, we have to go back to the 2021 throwback pass from Michael Barrett to Henning against Maryland. The last time the Wolverines went three straight years without a return touchdown was the final three years of the Hoke era. But with Semaj Morgan coming up a few strides short against Iowa in the 2023 Big Ten Championship, Michigan could tie this mark without a playmaker emerging this year.
Looking at the roster, Morgan again has to be considered Michigan’s best chance to break this drought. But what if his slump continues? Or he’s not on the team in the fall? Or what if he has a more significant role in the offense and cannot afford to play special teams?
Two names to watch emerge are UMass wide receiver transfer Anthony Simpson — who will not be on campus in the spring — and rising sophomore running back Micah Ka’apana. Simpson has the experience at his previous school and his previous school’s previous school (Arizona), while the young Ka’apana is an absolute burner and is rumored to be the fastest Wolverine on the roster.
Several freshmen are not to be counted out, but it’s hard to imagine the coaching staff trusting the unproven hands of a teenager out of the gate. Frederick Moore could also be a name in the mix, as could Benjamin Hall. Spring represents an opportunity for a player to seize an early lead and perhaps never relinquish it. And for a seemingly wide-open battle, this will be one of the most exciting to watch play out.
It’s not quite steak season, but this speculation ahead of the spring and the 2025 season is savory enough to satisfy. For now.