INDIANAPOLIS − Just because the Michigan football team has become familiar with Indianapolis doesn’t mean it’s become bored with it.
On the contrary, the hope for the Wolverines 135 days from Thursday − when new head coach Sherrone Moore, running back Donovan Edwards, fullback Max Bredeson and safety Makari Paige held court at Big Ten Media Days − is that they’ll be back on the same field to compete for a fourth consecutive Big Ten championship.
“For the University of Michigan, our football program, our players, our coaches, our staff, what an unbelievable job our Team 144 did,” Moore began Thursday. “But we’re ready for Team 145 to take the reigns. We’re excited to be here at Lucas Oil Stadium, a place we look forward to try to strive to end the regular season here.
“Humbly, been blessed to be able to be here the past couple of years, look forward to working our process to continue to do the same.”
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Soon after his opening remarks, Moore was peppered with questions about what’s different this time around for the Wolverines. After all, six coaches left while five others have been promoted; not to mention a record 18 players from one program were invited to the combine, which ended with U-M setting a program record with 13 players getting selected in the NFL draft.
While there is admittedly quite a bit that’s changed for the reigning national champions, Moore was more intently focused on what’s been able to remain in place.
“Making sure our culture, that our alignment stays the same,” Moore said of his primary focus since he shifted from offensive line coach and offensive coordinator to the head job in January. “Our players have done an outstanding job of keeping the culture, keeping the togetherness, the brotherhood, so really it’s a testament to them.”
Even with three banners all with block M’s on them representing U-M’s recent run of dominance, prognosticators don’t seem to believe the run will continue. U-M was picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten in a preseason media poll behind rival Ohio State, new-comer Oregon and longtime nemesis Penn State.
There are some who could see it as a bit insulting; the Wolverines haven’t lost to the Buckeyes since 2019 or to Penn State since 2020, however those on hand representing the Maize and Blue kept their reactions even-keel.
“That’s fine,” Edwards said. “You know, people always put stuff to paper, but ultimately it’s nothing we haven’t been through at all at Michigan. Ultimately, we’re going to do whatever it takes to win every single game this year.”
When will Michigan name starting QB?
Though there are a number of unknowns on the roster, there is a glaring question that stands out above the rest. Who will be the starting quarterback when Michigan opens the season against Fresno State under the lights on Aug. 31?
The three leading candidates heading into fall camp are junior Alex Orji, graduate student Jack Tuttle and senior Davis Warren.
“They all have the attributes you need to be a successful starting quarterback at the University of Michigan,” Moore said. “The No. 1 thing we’re looking for out of any guy that’s our quarterback is they’re a playmaker; they make plays, they’ll make the right decision, they’ll take care of the football and they want to win.”
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Each player brings something unique to the table. The most tantalizing option seems to be Orji, the 6-foot-3, 235-pound dual threat athlete. He’s run the ball 21 times in his career for 123 yards and three touchdowns, however, he’s only been entrusted with throwing one pass (a five-yard completion).
Then there’s Tuttle, who was the No. 2 last year prior to injury. He’s thrown 199 career passes at both Indiana and U-M, which included a nice campaign in spot duty last year, when he completed 15 of 17 passes for 130 yards and a score and ran four times for another 35 yards.
As for Warren, he didn’t complete a pass last year (0 for 5), but threw the most consistent ball of the spring game and showed nice precision on his deep passes. All three will get a chance to run with the starters at some point in the fall, as they did in the spring, but don’t expect Moore to make a decision before the season starts just because it’s here.
After all, his predecessor (Jim Harbaugh) took a quarterback competition into the season in 2022, and that worked out just fine when J.J. McCarthy ultimately beat out Cade McNamara.
“The ideal timeline is when we feel like we’ve got the guy who will help us win,” Moore said. “There’s not a date, not a time. We will have a feel as a staff … Kirk Campbell is a phenomenal coach … he will make a great decision and we will be there to make it together.”
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