3 Wolverines to Watch vs Fresno State: Offense

Finally, we’ve reached game week and Michigan football is nearly back. Every day this week, we’ll preview the Wolverines & Fresno State ahead of their Week 1 matchup.

First, we’re breaking down the polarizing Michigan offense. While the unit has some clear starters at running back (Donovan Edwards) and tight end (Colston Loveland), every other position will have new faces for you to catch up on.

Based on the many position battles and exciting young players, these are the three offensive players we’re watching closest for Michigan on Saturday. 👇

Greg Crippen & Raheem Anderson

If Michigan football plans to replicate its recent success again in 2024, it’s no secret that a strong offensive line is integral to the process. Dating back to Mason Cole and most recently Drake Nugent, the Wolverines seemingly always field a dominant center.

Now, two seniors will duke it out in a position battle that’s been brewing since they arrived in Ann Arbor in Greg Crippen & Raheem Anderson. These two have battled for the backup position behind Olu Oluwatimi and Nugent but now, the winner will play every down.

Knowing that Michigan is rock-solid in at least three of its offensive line positions – Myles Hinton (LT), Josh Priebe (LG), Gio El-Hadi (RG) – securing an anchor in the middle of the line will be pivotal.

Pay attention to who’s snapping the ball to start on Saturday, if they mix in both with the starters and who looks best in Week 1.

Last season, the team had time to figure out its starters in the opening weeks. With Texas on the clock next week, those luxuries aren’t possible in 2024.

Semaj Morgan

Many believe a breakout year is ahead for true sophomore, Semaj Morgan, out of local West Bloomfield High School, where he played for Michigan’s wide receivers coach, Ron Bellamy.

Despite his frame (5’10”, 174 pounds) being undersized, it did not take the lightning-fast Morgan long to make an impact in Ann Arbor. As a freshman, he scored four total touchdowns (two receiving, two rushing), all coming in Big Ten play (Maryland, Indiana, Purdue, and Rutgers) while totaling more than 20 catches.

With the two starting wideouts exiting to the NFL, Morgan has to go from budding star freshman to the leader of the pack. He needs to be more than their gadget guy, but someone for the quarterback to rely on and look for in 3rd down situations.

More importantly, we’re looking for Morgan to be a deep threat that Michigan’s been missing for quite some time.

Despite the run-heavy expectations from Sherrone Moore’s offense a year ago, new offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell is known for airing it out and Morgan is the most dynamic weapon in the wideout room.

Can he be the game-breaker the Wolverines need him to be?

The Quarterbacks

Of course, we’re not looking at any players more closely than the quarterbacks.

No matter what sports show you listen to, the topic of conversation surrounding the defending national champions is unanimous: Who is the starting quarterback?

Mostly everyone, including Blue By Ninety, expects it to be junior Alex Orji.

We know how well he can run and that he transforms the offense into a different beast – but will the contrast equal positive results?

We can’t answer that until we see him throw the ball, which we’ve seen only once in his Michigan football career.

Still, my best advice before watching him is do not expect him to be J.J. McCarthy. That ship has sailed. He is a different style of quarterback, for better or worse.

All of that makes it all the more enticing to see what he brings to the table as QB1, if it’s good enough to win a ton of big games this season, and how different the offense will look with him leading it.

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