By Micheal Germanese
Team 146 will officially take the field for the first time on Sat. Apr. 19, Noon, EST with the Spring Game being televised on BTN. Last year’s spring game was the start of a new era for Michigan after Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL with Sherrone Moore taking over a program coming off their first national championship since 1997, and the season had a feeling to it like the new regime was playing with house money. That feeling is gone and coming off a disappointing 8-5 season with a strong conclusion, Moore now is faced with the pressure to win in 2025.
In last year’s spring game, the glaring hole appeared at the quarterback position for the first time. Moore and his staff decided to go with the guys in the room instead of addressing the problem in the spring portal. The decision not to look elsewhere for a quarterback would be questioned all season after the poor play at that position. A season plagued with offensive ineptitude; the spring game brings anticipation to see if Michigan has fixed some of its biggest problems.
Michigan’s defense last season kept them in almost every game. The offense was the question and if they could score enough points to win some of those games. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t score nearly enough ultimately costing the Wolverines games.
Michigan’s inability to find any consistency in the passing game, and to sustain drives would cost offensive coordinator Kick Campbell his job. Chip Lindey who was at North Carolina in 2024 was hired as Michigan’s new Offensive Coordinator. Now a new OC combined with the aggressive offseason in player acquisition, has Moore and company done enough to cure the problems that plagued team 145 a year ago?
In last year’s spring game, it was clear that Michigan was going to have a difficult time throwing the ball and scoring on offense. This year’s game should be the complete opposite showing Michigan’s ability to move the ball not only on the ground but in the air as well.
🗓️ Save the date: The Maize vs Blue Spring Game will be on April 19 pic.twitter.com/y1uKs2EtEd
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) February 13, 2025
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With the game set the anticipation will build to see what Team 146 will look like heading into full camp. After the struggles a year ago on offense Quarterback, Wide Receiver and Tight End look to be the three groups to keep an eye on in this year’s spring game. It will also give fans their first glimpse of what a Lindsey-led offense will look like.
Quarterback
Media, fans, and even rivals will be watching this spring to see if Michigan fixed their biggest problem from a year ago QB. Michigan’s passing game was one of the worst in the country if not program history ranking 131th after averaging just 129.1 yards a game. Michigan’s struggles played a big role in changing Michigan from transformational to transactional in recruiting. That change allowed Michigan to flip the No. 1 player and quarterback in the country Bryce Underwood from LSU to Michigan.
Underwood is one of the most anticipated recruits in Michigan history and will have fans heading to Ann Arbor for the spring game. It will be the first time fans see the Michigan native at the Big House. While bringing in a talent like Underwood is great, it’s unrealistic to believe that a true freshman will come in on day 1 to take a program to the next level. Like any freshman there will be growing pains, the transition from high school to college is difficult and Underwood will need some time to adjust.
NEW: Michigan QB signee Bryce Underwood is the first recruit to ever receive a 100 rating from On3📈
"The combination of size, arm talent, and athleticism is reminiscent of players like Josh Allen and Cam Newton." –@CharlesPower
Story: https://t.co/8Tf8JwCJxs pic.twitter.com/MXqG8VIs8H
— On3 (@On3sports) January 30, 2025
While Everyone will be watching to see what Underwood can do, transfer QB Mikey Keene will be looking to take the number one spot away from him. Keene came over from Fresno State after leading the Bulldogs to a 6-7 record a year ago. Last season, he completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 2,892 yards, and 18 touchdowns, but also threw 11 interceptions. This won’t be the first time Wolverines fans have seen Keene play in the Big House, in the season opener last season Keene threw for 235 yards, a TD, and two interceptions in the 30-10 loss for Fresno State.
Wide Receiver
In the 13 games, Michigan played last season their receivers only caught 12 total passing TDs. As a group, they only totaled 1,678 yards and averaged a mere 5.4 yards per pass. Like QB it was unclear who WR1 would be after the spring game, and it stayed unclear throughout the entire season. Heading into this year’s spring game Michigan looks to have added more talent to the WR room in 2025.
Big-time addition. Donaven McCulley is exactly what Michigan needs: a tall receiver with great ball skills, especially near the goal line. #GoBluepic.twitter.com/DRwPe0aHbO https://t.co/BoXTtQHV7F
— WG (@NvictusManeo) December 14, 2024
Donaven McCulley, the Indiana transfer looks to be the most likely candidate to take the biggest role in 2025. McCulley only had two receptions for 12 yards and one TD in 2024 at Indiana. After McCulley suffered an injury in the season opener a year ago, he was never able to find a role after coming back. Michigan hopes they get the McCulley who led the Hoosiers in 2023 with 48 receptions, for 644 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Fredrick Moore and Semaj Morgan both return in 2025 after disappointing 2024 seasons and will look to secure starting rolls in 2025. Moore in 2024 had 11 receptions for 128 yards and one TD. But after having his best game against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl with three receptions for 37 yards and a TD, the hope is he takes the next step. Morgan had the second most receptions for Michigan a year ago with 27 and was third in yards with 139 but only found the endzone one time. Morgan like Moore will be looking to prove that 2024 was nothing more than a down year.
While McCulley, Moore, and Morgan are believed to be the front runners to start there should be no shortage of competition behind them looking to take their spot. Anthony Simpson, the UMass transfer who left the program after week 4 will have a lot to prove. Kenrick Bell, Peyton O’Leary, and Channing Goodwin are all back after having little production in 2024, the hope is with the upgrade at QB they will all look like the receivers they thought they should be in 2024.
Tight End
Colston Loveland was the Wolverine’s biggest threat in the passing game a year ago but is now off to the NFL leaving a big void to fill for the Wolverines. Loveland accounted for 30 percent of the receptions, 35 percent of the yards, and 42 percent of the touchdowns in the passing game a year ago. With Loveland gone, it will be up to Marlin Klein, Hogan Hansen, Max Bredson, Zach Marshall, and Brady Prieskorn to fill the void left.
Klein will be the player fans will be looking for to make, a big impression in spring practice. Klein played in all 13 games yet only had 13 receptions for 108 yards and no touchdowns. With Loveland out against Ohio State and Alabama, Klein totaled four receptions for 20 yards combined.
Loveland is out of the game with what’s hopefully nothing serious.
In steps Marlin Klein – the pride of…./checks notes…Germany🇩🇪 on a well executed seam route. pic.twitter.com/qZO5sSaq6s— Due# (@JDue51) September 15, 2024
Hansen, a freshman last season will be Klein’s biggest competition for the starting job. Hansen played in 10 games, totaling seven receptions, 78 yards, and one Touchdown. At 6-6, 247lbs (Klein) and 6-6, 236lbs both have the size to make a big impact in 2025, but the question will be who takes the next step in spring?
Klein and Hansan will get most of the playing time while Prieskorn and Marshall will be competing for the third spot in spring and should see playing time in the rotation. Prieskorn and Marshall didn’t see any playing time in 2024, so spring practice will be an opportunity to show the new OC what they can do.
