In any conversation about Michigan football spring practices, Bryce Underwood is the first topic, rightfully so.
But if the Wolverines are going to win this season, they are going to need more than their freshman quarterback standing out.
There are sure to be bumps along the road for Underwood. However, there is a strong team around him. Maybe even one that's better than expected. Urban Meyer predicted nine wins.
That seems realistic. But here are three pleasant surprises this spring that could make exceeding that win total possible.
The wide receivers
There has been a bunch of positive buzz about the wide receiver room this spring, and not just from newcomers such as transfer Donaven McCulley or incoming freshmen Andrew Marsh and Jamar Browder.
Browder and McCulley are each 6-foot-5. That size has been noticeable this spring. Browder has turned heads. McCulley has too, along with Marsh, but holdovers such as Fred Moore, I'Marion Stewart, and Channing Goodwin have all been praised this spring.
Michigan football is expected to add a wide receiver in the spring transfer portal. More talent is still needed but things aren't nearly as dire as some have made them out to be. There is enough talent is this room for Underwood to be successful right away.
Offensive line
Michigan football fans will often talk about how the quarterbacks struggled in 2024, but the offensive line struggles weren't far behind that.
Things got better as the season wore on. The run blocking was especially better in the last three games which included the road win over No. 2 Ohio State and the bowl win over Alabama.
Sherrone Moore knew the offensive line had to get better, so he hired long-time NFL offensive line coach Juan Castillo to help with that group and the returns are good so far. Nathan Efobi has emerged as the likely starter at right guard, along with Greg Crippen at center and Givovanni El-Hadi at guard.
Andrew Sprague seems to have the right tackle job locked down. Evan Link is the biggest question mark but he's had a good spring, although he's played at tackle and guard.
If Michigan football was able to add a proven offensive tackle in the portal, who can play the left side, that would be ideal and would also allow Link to bump inside, which is probably his best position.
We'll see how the offensive line looks in the spring game, but I'm feeling better about that group than I was when the spring began, so that's something.
Defensive tackle depth
One concern heading into the offseason was defensive tackle depth. That's logical when you have quite possibly the two best defensive tackles in college football leaving your roster for the NFL.
Yet, Michigan football added Tre Williams and Damon Payne from the transfer portal. They were each experienced and proven to a point with Clemson and Alabama, respectively, but neither has reached their full potential, yet.
This spring though, each had stood out.
“Both transfers have been great, Tre and Dame,” Enow Etta said on Thursday via The Wolverine. “They’re great guys. We’re just in the meetings, locker rooms laughing, having fun, hanging out with them outside of here. It’s just great. And they’ve been really coming along. They see the expectation. They look great.
“It’s good, because that’s a challenge for me with great guys next to me. That also makes me feel good with that depth going into the season. We got a lot of guys that can play, and I think we all proved that very early this spring. We’re just gonna keep rolling into fall and keep rolling into the season, and a lot of people will be surprised.”
Etta, who is now listed at 6-foot-5, 308 pounds, has been playing "inside and out." He'll be a factor at defensive tackle this season, along with Ike Iwunnah, who also held up well in the ReliaQuest Bowl win.
Trey Pierce is another player expected to be part of the rotation. He also had some great moments against Alabama, and when you add all of those guys, along with Rayshaun Benny, who might be the best defensive tackle in college football this season, let's just say, defensive tackle might be the least of Michigan's worries heading into the 2025 season.