Across the board, Michigan football looks like it'll field a very strong roster in 2025. The biggest question, however, remains wide receiver. The hope is that Michigan is able to find a true star wide receiver when the Spring transfer portal opens, but that was also the hope during the Winter portal period. Obviously that didn't happen, so expectations for the Spring period obviously need to be tempered a bit.
While Michigan football is going to pursue the top receivers in the portal, there's no telling who will be available and how interested in the Wolverines they'll be. We only have uncertainty with the portal. Where we have certainty, on the other hand, is with the returning wide receivers.
The wide receiver room was very unimpressive in 2024, but an argument can be made that it wasn't just a lack of talent, but also a lack of a star quarterback. A great quarterback makes his wide receivers better. Michigan now appears to have a star quarterback, but will they have the wide receiver production?
Michigan needs to make Frederick Moore its WR1 amongst returning receivers
If there's one guy who I felt got treated very unfairly in 2024, its Frederick Moore. Now obviously the coaches have inside information and should make the best decisions, but they did make a handful of questionable decisions in 2024. Chief amongst them, to me, is the lack of snaps given to Moore.
Moore only had 11 receptions in 2024, and was seemingly never on the field. When he was on the field, he was frequently Michigan's most consistent option. Against Alabama, he made an incredible contested touchdown grab in the rain. A number of times, he broke wide open on deep routes just to be overlooked.
Moore might not be the most physically imposing guy on the field, but for a group that really struggled to get open, he was open a lot. Even when he wasn't "open", when the ball was thrown his way he was very effective. He had a fantastic diving catch against Ohio State to give Michigan a 4th and 1 in the red zone. He can be a very effective receiver.
With a quarterback that is expected to be great, Michigan's receivers are going to be put in a much better position.
Moore should only be more effective because of that. But to show that effectiveness, Michigan's coaches need to put him on the field. For as much as we complained about wide receiver production, we didn't give many opportunities to the receiver who was putting himself in a position to produce at a high level.
Moore is, in my opinion, Michigan's top returning receiver. Inconsistent quarterback play and a baffling lack of opportunities limited his impact in 2024, but with the offense expected to be more dynamic in 2025 (it'd be hard to be less dynamic), Moore can be a great receiver for Michigan. He just needs the opportunity.