Five positions the Michigan Wolverines could face regression at in 2025 after multiple changes in the offseason
The 2024 college football season was a roller coaster for the Michigan Wolverines. The team started well, going 4-1 through their first five games before a 1-4 stretch in the middle of the season doomed the team. However, they ended the season on a three-game win streak that included beating Ohio State and Alabama in […]
The 2024 college football season was a roller coaster for the Michigan Wolverines. The team started well, going 4-1 through their first five games before a 1-4 stretch in the middle of the season doomed the team. However, they ended the season on a three-game win streak that included beating Ohio State and Alabama in back-to-back games.
The Wolverines changed offensive coordinators and brought in new quarterbacks in transfer Mikey Keene and elite freshman talent Bryce Underwood. They also brought in an elite recruiting class and a solid transfer portal haul.
However, it can't all be positive. Losing a boatload of NFL talent will hurt this roster next season. What positions could the Wolverines be worse at in 2025?
Positions Michigan Wolverines could regress at in their 2025 season
Defensive Line
With the loss of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Josaiah Stewart, this was bound to happen. Michigan still returns plenty of talent in players like Derrick Moore, TJ Guy, Rayshaun Benny, and Damon Payne, but none of those guys are the elite NFL-caliber talents that are departing.
Michigan's defensive line will likely still be good but it has lost key cogs that allowed the unit to dominate and take over games over the last few years.
Wide receiver
Being better than last year should be a low bar to clear, but I'm not convinced the Wolverines have done that just yet. They added Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley and UMass transfer Anthony Simpson, but those moves feel like getting the unit closer to last year than really transforming the position.
With Semaj Morgan's struggles last season as well, it's hard to really feel comfortable about this unit without significant growths in development and breakout years from the younger talents on the roster.
Tight End
This one is obvious. Colston Loveland is off to the NFL, and he was Michigan's entire passing game. They return players like Marlin Klein, Hogan Hansen, Brady Prieskorn, and Max Bredeson, but none of them are the same game-changers that Loveland was.
Offensive line
This unit worries me more than any other group on the roster. It's hard to feel optimistic about what they can be this season with who they are set to start this year. Their two best linemen last season, Myles Hinton and Josh Priebe, are off to the NFL and the players returning are…worrisome at best.
Center Greg Crippen and right guard Giovanni El-Hadi were inconsistent last season. Right tackle Evan Link struggled throughout most of the year, and they seemingly might move him to left tackle next year. Few answers are comforting at either tackle spot next season, and the interior is far from a sure thing as well.
Cornerback
No Will Johnson takes my optimism about this unit down a few notches. Jyaire Hill returns to man a spot outside and Zeke Berry returns to hold down the nickel, but the other starting outside cornerback and their depth is wide open. They're currently set to rely on sophomore Jo'Ziah Edmond for that spot, but he had 38 snaps on defense last season.
Maybe they ease some concerns here with more additions in the spring portal, but as it stands currently, this room has me worried.
