It seems like there is always talk about how much Michigan football will throw the ball.
That's been true this offseason. Fans, players, and recruits have all speculated about how much the Wolverines will pass the ball this season under Kyle Whittingham, in his first season as the Michigan football head coach.
Andrew Marsh said that the Wolverines will "air it out" more than they did a year ago. That statement is easy to believe. Even if Michigan doesn't throw a ton more passes than it did last season, the passing game will be more aggressive, throwing the ball down the field.
That's not something you could say about the Wolverines with Bryce Underwood last season. At times, it felt like Michigan didn't want him throwing beyond the line of scrimmage. That will change this season, but the biggest strength on the team shouldn't be neglected.
That's still the running back room. For his part, Whittingham said it could be the best in the nation.
'Best room in the country," Whittingham said via Chris Balas of The Wolverine.
The head coach was referring to the running back room that features Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter, and Bryson Kuzdal.
Michigan's elite running back room is a weapon
Marshall had four 100-yard games during Big Ten play last season, and also ran for 61 yards on seven attempts against Ohio State before he had to leave the game. Bryson Kuzdal also had a 100-yard game against Maryland.
Kuzdal was expected to leave this offseason via the transfer portal. However, Justice Haynes left, simply because Michigan football didn't have enough carries to keep Marshall, Haynes, and Hiter satisfied.
Hiter was the top-ranked running back in the 2027 recruiting class. He's got an elite combination of size, speed, and agility. He's also a dangerous receiver. When paired with an offensive line that should also be one of the best in college football, not just the Big Ten, Michigan football could have the best running game in the sport, especially if Bryce Underwood really is used as a runner.
It feels like Jason Beck will do a better job of being able to take advantage of the running game in order to generate explosive plays in the passing game. He did it with Utah last season, and also helped Devon Dampier, a transfer quarterback from New Mexico, become one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football last season.
So the passing game will be better. Underwood will be, too, but Michigan's best path to victory might still be grounding opponents into submission.
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