Jayden Denegal – 28 / 69.3
Davis Warren – 19 / 29.7
Alex Orji – 17 / 68.9
Newcomers: Jadyn Davis
The final-round statistics from Pro Football Focus shed some light on the Michigan Wolverines’ possible starting lineup for 2024.
When the draft entry window closed in 2024, over twenty Michigan football standouts were selected by the NFL. The Wolverines, who had a 15-0 record at the end of the previous season, will have to replace quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, receiver Roman Wilson, and several other starters on the starting offensive line.
That being said, in order to be ready for the upcoming campaign, the team will need to make some adjustments.
We will go through some of PFF’s end-of-season grades and snap counts position by position today to give you an updated picture of what the Wolverines’ offensive depth chart might look like in 2024.
Running back
Donovan Edwards – 370 / 70.2
Kalel Mullings – 88 / 81.0
Benjamin Hall – 31 / 67.5
Tavierre Dunlap – 10 / 66.4
Cole Cabana – 2 / 64.1
Newcomers: Jordan Marshall, Micah Ka’apana
The running back situation will probably be more defined going into the 2024 season than the quarterback situation at Ann Arbor. The team’s primary back at the beginning of the season will surely be Donovan Edwards, with Kalel Mullings receiving nearly equal playing time following a 2023 campaign in which the former linebacker ran the ball 36 times for 222 yards, or an average of 6.2 yards per carry. While Mullings finished the season as one of six Wolverines to end with an 80+ overall grade, Edwards will always hold a special place in the program’s heart. However, it will be difficult to keep Mullings off the field in 2024.
There is an embarrassment of riches at the position behind Mullings and Edwards. The Wolverines have a lot of young, talented running backs on the field, and Benjamin Hall, who played 31 snaps last season, is being considered as a potential option for RB3 minutes. As if all of that was not enough, keep an eye out for newcomers Jordan Marshall and Micah Kaapana. Cole Cabana is another name we hope to see more of next season. Running backs may wind up being one of the more entertaining position groups to watch on the entire roster, regardless of the outcome.
Wide receiver
Tyler Morris – 344 / 58.7
Semaj Morgan – 145 / 82.8
Fredrick Moore – 107 / 57.7
Karmello English – 66 / 57.7
Peyton O’Leary – 38 / 67.9
Newcomers: Channing Goodwin, I’Marion Stewart
Wide receivers should not be a controversial group in 2024, even with the retirement of veteran starters Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson. After accumulating 344 snaps for the Wolverines in his sophomore season, Tyler Morris is your unquestionable #1 wide receiver. In comparison to the aforementioned Wilson and Johnson, he saw comparatively few targets. However, this was largely due to Michigan’s offensive strategy from the previous season, which produced few opportunities behind the team’s two top receivers, tight ends, and trick plays intended for Semaj Morgan, who was probably preferred over Morris at times to confuse opponents by showcasing something they had not seen much of on tape.
Speaking of Semaj Morgan, the true freshman had an outstanding 82.8 overall PFF grade at the end of the season and was routinely rated among the best players on the field when he saw action. In addition to Morris and Morgan, Fredrick Moore will also likely appear more frequently. Moore received 107 total snaps in the previous season, and with the recent addition of Darrius Clemons, it appears probable that you will see both him and Karmello English in 2024.
Tight end
Colston Loveland – 568 / 75.8
Max Bredeson – 238 / 69.1
Josh Beetham – 61 / 39.9
Marlin Klein – 37 / 54.9
Zack Marshall – 6 / 48.4
Newcomers: Brady Prieskorn, Hogan Hansen
Colston Loveland’s return for another season is crucial for Michigan’s offense. The sophomore wide receiver caught 45 catches for a remarkable 649 yards, and he offers a solid platform for the player the coaching staff chooses to line up opposite him. Max Bredeson’s use in 2023 might not change, but given that he played 238 snaps last season, 195 of those snaps came on run plays, it appears plausible.
Should the Wolverines fail to sign a transfer, Josh Beetham may be a contender to play behind Loeveland. In eight games as a senior in 2023, Beetham saw 61 snaps in all. Zack Marshall and Marlin Klein might also be able to step up. Brady Prieskorn or Hogan Hansen might also have a chance to start playing a major role early in the upcoming season.
Offensive line
Myles Hinton – 287 / 72.5
Giovanni El-Hadi – 105 / 52.0
Greg Crippen – 98 / 61.6
Jeffrey Persi – 78 / 63.3
Andrew Gentry – 52 / 56.8
Raheem Anderson – 1 / 60.0
Amir Herring – 1 / 60.0
Newcomers: Josh Priebe (764 / 62.0), Andrew Sprague, Blake Frazier, Luke Hamilton, Jake Guarnera, Ben Roebuck
The offensive linemen at Michigan are in excellent hands, despite the fact that six of them are expected to enter the NFL Draft. As the team’s most seasoned return tackle, Myles Hinton performed admirably for Michigan in 2023, especially when he was used as an additional lineman toward the end of the year. Josh Priebe, a Northwestern transfer who saw 764 snaps with his previous squad last season, joins him as a seasoned presence along the line.
If no other transfers end up joining this group, Michigan ought to be good. Giovanni El-Hadi, who has long been seen as a lock for a guard position, played more than 100 snaps last season in Trevor Keegan’s place and ought to be ready to go right away. With 98 snaps in relief action and a respectable grade of 61.6, Greg Crippen comes into his senior season in a similar circumstance.
