Three Most Concerning Positions for Michigan Football Ahead of 2024 Season
The Michigan Wolverines football team has a lot to prove in 2024 as they aim to continue their recent success. Coming off three straight Big Ten Conference championships and a national championship, they face their first season without Jim Harbaugh. They also lost significant talent to the NFL, with a program record of 13 players drafted.
Here are the top three areas of concern for Michigan heading into the season.
Quarterback
Michigan had one of the best quarterbacks in J.J. McCarthy last year. McCarthy was 27-1 as a starter over three seasons and is one of the most efficient passers in Michigan football history, completing 240 of 332 attempts with only four interceptions and 22 touchdowns last season. Despite occasionally putting the ball in risky situations, the coaching staff trusted McCarthy.
There’s a lot of focus on Alex Orji stepping into the starting QB role. While his accuracy is questioned, he’s a talented runner capable of big plays, carrying the ball 15 times for 86 yards and one touchdown in 2023. However, he’s only attempted one career pass.
Jack Tuttle is another contender for the starting job. He completed 15 of 17 passes last year for 130 yards and one touchdown and picked up 35 yards on the ground. Tuttle’s career has been plagued by injuries, but he’s been accurate at Michigan and could win the starting job if he stays healthy.
No one expects Orji, Tuttle, or any other quarterback to be the next J.J. McCarthy, but that might not be necessary. Michigan will likely have a balanced offense again this season. The departure of Jim Harbaugh doesn’t mean the Wolverines will air it out on every play. While McCarthy was dynamic, Michigan will still have a solid run game to ease the pressure on the quarterback.
Offensive Line
Michigan lost all its starting offensive linemen, and six linemen total, to the NFL. That’s a huge loss and a major concern for the 2024 team.
While players like Greg Crippen and Myles Hinton have seen playing time, losing so much starting talent on the line is worrisome. Sherrone Moore, who coached back-to-back Joe Moore award-winning lines and another group named finalists for the award, understands the importance of winning in the trenches. Even with Moore’s move to head coach, he won’t abandon the focus on strength up front.
Another advantage is that they’ll be practicing against one of the best defensive lines every week. The phrase “iron sharpens iron” applies here, and in-house competition should prepare these new linemen for the tough defenses they’ll face this fall.
Cornerback
Michigan lost Mike Sainristil to the NFL after the 2023 season, which will hurt this year. He was one of the smartest players on the field and delivered in crucial moments. While Michigan added depth through the transfer portal, there’s still a lot of pressure on Will Johnson at this position.
Adding CB Aamir Hall helps after the loss of DJ Waller Jr. to Kentucky. Hall, an FCS All-American, still needs to prove himself in the Big Ten. Behind Johnson are Keshaun Harris, Jyaire Hill, and Ja’Den McBurrows. With S Rod Moore’s injury, the cornerbacks face even more pressure, and depth remains a concern.
Will Johnson is the main reason for less concern in the cornerback room. He has proven he can compete against the best teams. Last year, opponents still targeted him, but Johnson demonstrated why they shouldn’t.
What position concerns you most heading into the 2024 season? Let us know in the comments.
