By Micheal Germanese
Anticipation, excitement and buzz are just a few words to describe the feeling around Ann Arbor, Mich. for the 2025 season. April has yet to arrive but fans are already looking forward to the spring game on April 19. The anticipation is due to Michigan putting together a top-10 recruiting and transfer portal class. Sherrone Moore’s option to play this year’s spring game has added to the anticipation.
While other programs cancelled their games with the fear of other teams tampering, Moore does seem treated in playing the game. Michigan financial backing when it comes to NIL, why should Moore be worried?
“I don’t think the spring game is going to make a big difference in whether your guys get poached or not,” Moore said, per On3’s Pete Nakos.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore tells @On3sports he does not plan to cancel this year's spring game.
"I don’t think the spring game is going to make a big difference in whether your guys get poached or not."t
More: https://t.co/tX8Mjh2I8q pic.twitter.com/jfwOQFwWzU
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) March 3, 2025
The 2025 season is just over five months away, and fans are eager to get their first look at what Team 146 might look like. Michigan, coming off a national championship a year ago, left people with more questions than answers in last April’s game. By the time the game ended, it was apparent Michigan had a quarterback problem and limited resources at the wide receiver position. Can this spring game do the complete opposite as a year ago? If it does, Michigan’s pressure to win will get ratcheted up even higher.
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Here are four position groups Michigan hopes to find answers for before the spring game ends.
Underwood vs. Keene
When was the last time a Michigan prospect has this much hype surrounding him like Bryce Underwood? The answer is never. Underwood, the No. 1 player and QB in the country, sent the college world swilling when he flipped his commitment from LSU to Michigan.
The spring game will give fans their first chance to see Underwood play inside the Big House. But will fans leave disappointed? It will be difficult to live up to the hype that Underwood is up against, but if he does, the college world will have a problem for the next three years.
Bryce Underwood throwing at his first Michigan football spring practice
📷: MGoBlue TV pic.twitter.com/t5lTgmcW22
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) March 20, 2025
Underwood wont just walk in and get the keys to the car. He’s going to have to fight for them. New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is expecting a battle for the starting spot. Fresno State transfer QB Mikey Keene will be looking to take the QB1 spot. Keene came to Ann Arbor after throwing for 2,892 yards and 18 TDs a year ago. Michigan is coming off a season where QB play was very underwhelming and can’t afford another season like it. Whether it’s Underwood or Keene, people around Ann Arbor will expect them to hit the ground running in week one.
Stopping the Run
Michigan held Ohio State to 77 yards rushing back in November and the main reason was Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Both left for the NFL and are projected to be first-round picks. The question is who will fill the large vacancy left by the two?
Trey Pierce Jr., Damon Payne Jr., Ike Iwunnah and Tre Williams will all be looking to make their point on April 19. Pierce and Alabama transfer Payne look to be the front runners. Pierce played in 13 games last season with one start and had seven total tackles on the season. Payne played in eight games for the Crimson Tide a year ago, totaling 14 tackles and one fumble recovery. Both will need to take big strides to fill the void left by Grant and Graham.
Tight End Production
Colston Loveland, like Graham and Grant, is heading to the NFL, leaving Lindsey to find a replacement. A year ago, Loveland totaled 582 yards, 56 receptions and five TDs, leading the Wolverines in all three categories. To put it into perspective, without Loveland, Michigan totaled 1,096 yards, 134 receptions and seven TDs as a team. Now, with Loveland gone, can either Marlin Klein or Hogan Hansen step into the role and fill the void left by Loveland?
Alex Orji finds Hogan Hansen for the 7-yard touchdown.
Michigan extends its lead to 28-3.
— Thomas Cook (@ThomasCookTV) September 14, 2024
In Michigan’s last two games against Ohio State and Alabama with Loveland out, Klein totaled four receptions for 20 yards. For the season Klein had 13 receptions for 108 yards. Hansen, in the same two games, had two receptions for 19 yards. On the season, Hansen had seven receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown.
Like the defensive line, the TEs need to take massive strides in spring and fall if they are going to replace Loveland’s production.
Secondary
Michigan’s defense ranked 63rd in passing yards allowed per game and 71st in opponents TD’s per game with 1.5. If Michigan can finally get Rod Moore back after a season-ending injury a year ago, the secondary will get a big lift. Moore was the starting safety but missed the entire season with an ACL tear and fans want nothing more than to see him play during the spring game.
For the defense to be better in 2025 Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry will need to have big seasons. Hill had 35 tackles, one sack, nine pass breakups and one interception in 12 games. Hill also had nine starts in 2024. Berry played in 13 games a year ago and started in 12 of them. On the season Berry had 37 tackles with 11 pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Hill and Berry will start along with Moore if healthy. If not TJ Metcalf, an Arkansas transfer, will take Moore’s spot. In 12 games for the Razorbacks Metcalf had 57 Tackles, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble. Brandyn Hillman, Jaden Mangham, Ja’Den McBurrows and Tevis Metcalf will all battle for the other two starting secondary positions.
