Michigan will undergo a significant transition in the 2024 offseason following Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL, where he will coach the Los Angeles Chargers after years of contemplating a move to the pros.
Stepping into Harbaugh’s role is Sherrone Moore, the former offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. Moore emerged as a potential successor after leading the Wolverines to victories over Penn State and Ohio State during Harbaugh’s suspension this season.
Moore has spent February assembling his coaching staff and is now focusing on maintaining the momentum from three consecutive Big Ten Championships and a National Championship.
“I have been preparing my entire coaching career for this opportunity, and I can’t think of a better place to be head coach than at the University of Michigan,” Moore stated at his introductory press conference. “We will do everything each day as a TEAM to continue the legacy of championship football that has been played at Michigan for the past 144 years. Our standards will not change.
We will be a smart, tough, dependable, relentless, and enthusiastic championship-level team that loves football and plays with passion for the game, the winged helmet, and each other. We will also continue to achieve excellence off the field, in the classroom, and in our communities. I am excited to start working in this new role with our players, coaches, and staff.”
Michigan faces a challenging 2024 schedule, hosting Texas, Oregon, and USC, and traveling to Washington and Ohio State, among others.
At Big Ten Media Days, Moore, alongside Donovan Edwards, Max Bredeson, and Makari Paige, fielded questions on topics ranging from the quarterback battle to the team’s potential for another championship run. Moore was non-committal on the quarterback competition but discussed the progress of key skill players.
“The guy that’s not talked about enough is Kalel Mullings,” Moore said. “He’s going to be a force. He’s unbelievable. He looks as good as he ever has. He’s geared to have a great year. If you watched him last year, every time he came in, he has an explosive play, a big play, he runs over somebody, makes somebody miss… but it’s hard to take the ball out of Blake Corum’s hands.
So for us, we’ve got a stable of guys. We’ve got him, we’ve got Ben Hall, we’ve got Cole Cabana, we’ve got this freshman Jordan Marshall, we’ve got Micah Kaapana, we’ve got guys left and right now. So, we’re really excited about that group, and continue to go day by day.”
“Semaj (Morgan) is probably one of the best practice players on the team. He practices so hard that he probably loses about five to six pounds every practice, and he’s got to gain it back. But the guy runs hard, runs physical, and for being a guy that’s so little in stature, he plays like he’s 200 pounds. And he’ll tell you that, too.
But he’s done an outstanding job of changing his body in a good way, (and) of continuing to (gain) speed. He got a 4.0 this semester, so that was a big change to allow him to get the no. 0, which he wouldn’t stop bugging me about. But he’s done an outstanding job and I’m excited for what he’s going to do this year.”
“Tyler Morris has been awesome. He’s really taken on a leadership role. Obviously, he had the big play in the Rose Bowl and surprised people. He really didn’t surprise us.
But he’s a guy that’s timed a 4.4 in high school. People forget he was a highly recruited kid but tore his ACL in high school and had been recovering. And he’s really, really ready to take the reins. He’s done an outstanding job. Fred Moore is another guy who had a great spring. Kendrick Bell, younger brother of Ronnie Bell, has the ability to be great… really great.
So, I’m excited for him. And then Amorion Walker (is back), and we talked about Semaj. so those are probably the top guys. Peyton O’Leary is a guy we’re ready to see break out.
He’s had some good springs. And we really want to see what he does here in the fall and fall camp. And then our young guys (we want to) see what they do.”
