3 thoughts on what we’ve heard during Michigan football fall camp

A week ago, media events began during Michigan football fall camp, allowing the press and fans to get an inside peek at how this year’s team is looking and what everyone is focused on. With just 19 days until the 2023 season kicks off, the feeling of football is in the air in Ann Arbor. Here are a few thoughts on what I have heard during fall camp thus far.

1. Michigan football fall camp is getting intense, but not in a bad way

When you have as many studs on the field as the Wolverines currently do, you are going to wind up with a number of intense battles. Right now, there are two types of battles going on in Ann Arbor — iron sharpening iron and position battles. 

When I say iron sharpens iron, I mean two elite players on opposite sides of the football that are making one another much better during fall camp. One such example is Kris Jenkins and Zak Zinter, who have reportedly been going at it — according to Sherrone Moore, these battles are getting physical but are making these two star players much better. In fact, facing one another in camp may be the toughest test that either elite lineman sees throughout the remainder of the year.

The second type of battle is a position battle, such as the one currently going on at linebacker between Ernest Hausmann and Mike Barrett. Last week, Jesse Minter said that both Hausmann and Barrett are playing at a much higher level than before due to the in-practice competition; a lot is at stake for these two, and it is clear that both are getting better because of it.

2. The Wolverines are striving for offensive balance, but that may not be the end result

Throughout Michigan football fall camp, Sherrone Moore and the players, such as JJ McCarthy, have been preaching the same message — offensive balance is king. That said, when reading between the lines, I am not so sure that balance is going to be the end result.

When asked about last year’s offensive outlook, Sherrone Moore said that the team wanted to be balanced last year as well; however, when something (like the rushing attack) is working as well as it did, why change? Additionally, everyone from Moore to JJ McCarthy and the offensive line continues to rave about the Wolverines’ elite running back room, which is once again headlined by Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards.

I think there is a good chance that JJ McCarthy gets to air it out a bit more this year, but don’t be shocked if the Wolverines decide to stick to what they do best — running the football — more often than not.

3. Expect to see Donovan Edwards… everywhere

So far, Donovan Edwards has scored rushing touchdowns, receiving touchdowns, and even a passing touchdown as a true freshman against Iowa in the 2021 Big Ten title game. This year, all signs point to Edwards seeing a new and improved role for the Wolverines — one that leads him all over the field and gets both of Michigan’s elite offensive threats (Edwards and Corum) on the field at the same time.

Donovan Edwards has been talking quite a bit about his abilities as a receiver, and it appears that the Wolverines are prepared to flex him around the offense as needed. In fact, Edwards even said on Friday that he can kick and play defense if given the chance.

When directly asked about Donovan Edwards’ role as a pass catcher, Sherrone Moore said that he couldn’t comment on it just yet. That said, he (as well as other coaches and players) has been raving about this junior Wolverine, and all of the buzz right now suggests that there is a unique role waiting for Edwards throughout the 2023 season.

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