Michigan misplaced some enormous items from its nationwide championship offense. The Wolverines not solely misplaced J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, a man who went 27-1 as a starter, however they’re misplaced Blake Corum, Roman Wilson, Cornelius Johnson, and the whole O-line. Corum, Wilson, and Johnson made up for 41 of the group’s touchdowns in 2023.
Nonetheless, the cabinet is not naked in Ann Arbor. Michigan does return some electrical gamers who will make an impression on the sphere. Not solely will the Wolverines have arguably the very best tight finish within the nation in junior Colston Loveland, however Michigan additionally brings again Semaj Morgan and Tyler Morris at large receiver.
Whereas these go catchers will make an impression on the Michigan offense, the participant who may in the end dictate what the Wolverines do in 2024 is senior working again Donovan Edwards. The West Bloomfield product had a down yr in ’23 by his requirements. He rushed for 497 yards however was fourth on the group in receiving with 249 yards by way of the air. Edwards determined to return again and change into the beginning working again in place for Corum who’s now within the NFL.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman named Edwards as one in all 10 gamers who may impression the School Soccer Playoff race in 2024.
He was spectacular two years in the past, working throughout Ohio State in Columbus, breaking that recreation open, and he was nice within the nationwide title recreation, ripping Washington for a pair of 40-plus-yard TD runs. However for essentially the most half final season, he didn’t seem like his previous self, coming off a torn patellar tendon from the earlier yr, working 119 instances for 497 yards with 5 touchdowns to go together with 30 catches for 249 yards. Edwards had solely two different runs of 20-plus yards within the Wolverines’ different 14 video games mixed. Now, with Blake Corum gone, because the Wolverines break in a brand new QB and a wholly new O-line, they want the 6-1, 212-pound Edwards to take over and seem like a Heisman contender in the event that they hope to remain within the prime 10.
– Bruce Feldman (The Athletic)
Michigan has relied on its floor assault because it grew to become a playoff contender in 2021. Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum led the best way for Michigan in 2021-2023 and now it is Edwards’ flip. The senior has gone from being overly assured to being a humble participant who has insisted he needs to do no matter he can for the group to win in 2024. Edwards does not need to take all of it on by himself, he needs his fellow teammates to eat as properly.
The Wolverines have not been shy in saying they should get the ball into Edwards’ fingers this season. Not solely will Michigan followers see him line up because the working again, however you may count on to see Edwards play some slot as properly and get some motion that approach. Getting Edwards into open subject would be the key for Michigan.
Rating each Huge Ten soccer projected beginning QB by PFF grades
10 Michigan soccer daring predictions for the 2024 season
ESPN teams Michigan into an attention-grabbing tier: ‘Who wants a QB anyway’