4 Thoughts on Michigan Football Halfway Through the Season
By Cullen Corr
Michigan Football May Be Really Good Again Next Year
It’s been talked about that Michigan could break the NFL Draft record with 15 or more players selected this year. So far, I think that could very well be the case, especially if this team keeps winning. What I wasn’t expecting, however, is just how much depth this team has. You have starting players only in there for 30-40 plays per game. And it’s not just players coming out once the game is well in hand either.
On defense especially, Michigan has rotated in so many young players because they’re showing they can contribute. A big focus for Michigan football has been that if you’re good enough to play, you’ll play. Aside from how helpful that is with keeping everyone engaged, it goes a long way in developing young players.
Despite how much Michigan will likely lose in the draft this year, you’ll have guys like Keon Sabb, Derrick Moore, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Will Johnson coming back to build a defense around. On offense, you’ll have Colston Loveland along with some young talented receivers like Darrius Clemons and Tyler Morris back.
I’m sure someone will step up at running back if Donovan Edwards follows Blake Corum to the NFL (Benjamin Hull and Kalel Mullings would be a great combination). The offensive line will be an area with a huge lack of experience but hopefully, you’ll have Sherrone Moore back to develop a number of highly touted recruits.
Lastly, for Michigan football fans, you want to root for other QBs around the country to keep doing really well this season. Barring anything extremely unforeseen, Caleb Williams of USC will obviously be the first QB off the board in April. Drake Maye out of UNC won’t be far behind. But if guys like Quinn Ewers in Texas, Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, Bo Nix from Oregon, Micheal Penix Jr in Washington, and Riley Leonard from Duke all keep playing well, there’s a chance that J.J. McCarthy gets overlooked despite having an elite season.
If those guys keep playing well, J.J. could risk sliding late into the draft despite being a first-round talent. After all, there are only so many teams in the NFL looking to draft a QB in an early round. If that’s the case, J.J. might want to come back for another year just to enter the draft at a time when there aren’t so many other talented QBs alongside him. And if he comes back, Michigan will be good again in 2024, regardless of who else you lose.