INDIANAPOLIS — The word on the street is Michigan football is taking a big, old step back in 2024, and it makes sense. There were a lot of player departures to the NFL, head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL, thus there’s a new head coach in Sherrone Moore. The defensive staff also left en masse. There are plenty of reasons to doubt Michigan football.
However, that’s not how this team sees it. Having reached the mountaintop after winning a national championship this past year, the Wolverines are hopeful and eager to prove that wasn’t just a one-off. It will be more difficult as the conference expands and with teams like Texas on the schedule.
Though there will be a lot of new faces on the team, including at quarterback, fullback Max Bredeson believes that the wide receiving corps is poised to surprise a lot of people in 2024.
“I’m super excited for Fred Moore,” Bredeson said. “The whole receiver room from top to bottom. And there’s so many great guys like Fred, (Tyler Morris), Semaj, Peyton O’Leary, Kendrick Bell’s made some great strides, too. There’s guys who you would think it’s their their first big moment but like they’re so they’re so beyond ready just because of the nature of how the program develops.”
One thing that can be said is that the defense is loaded. Though there were NFL departures, there’s incredible experience at every level.
Michigan may have the best defensive line, with Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant both flirting with being potential first-round picks after their junior year. The edge rushers — Derrick Moore and Josaiah Stewart — were on the field for the final play of the Rose Bowl against Alabama and were jointly responsible for stopping Jalen Milroe on fourth down. The backend also has a ton of experience, but there’s one player who’s shown massive improvement up front that Bredeson is particularly excited about.
“TJ Guy — I couldn’t talk about TJ enough,” Bredeson said. “And in the world that college football is in now, TJ could have left so many times but he’s waited his turn and he’s worked so hard and so excited to see him have his opportunity. I’ve practiced against him since I first got here and the way that guy works, developed every pass rush move everything in the run game, he’s worked so hard and so grateful that he’ll get an opportunity to show that.”
One of the fun components of every new team are those players who end up exceeding expectations. Fans will get their first chance to see if any of the aforementioned players are bound to stepping up on August 31 when the Wolverines host Fresno State for the season opener.
Wolverines Wire
