5 observations from Michigan football spring game

The Michigan football spring game is in the books. It was a 17-7 win for the Maize team and there was plenty to be learned. We should caution and remember that spring is just spring.

A lot can change between now and the fall. There’s no need to overreact to what we saw on Saturday. Davis Warren had some nice moments. So did Alex Orji. Young wideouts made plays and some young defenders also stood out.

The quarterback battle is the biggest question hanging over this Michigan football team and Saturday didn’t do much to answer the question of who starts against Fresno State. Here are five observations and we’ll start with the most important position on the field.

🎥 Spring Game Highlights pic.twitter.com/dcpPXclPAN

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) April 20, 2024

The quarterbacks at least showed potential

After the spring game, Kirk Campbell said that Michigan wasn’t looking at transfer portal quarterbacks. That could certainly change if some bigger names entered, but I doubt that’s going to happen.

Michigan OC Kirk Campbell says searching the Transfer Portal for a quarterback is not part of the team’s thought process right now.

— Brock Heilig (@brockheilig) April 20, 2024

We have talked about the current options in the transfer portal and they aren’t good. Davis Warren threw the ball the best out of any quarterbacks. He had two touchdown passes in the second half, plus a 36-yard completion in the first.

Those three explosive plays led to 17 points. However, it should be pointed out that on the first-half pass, Jimmy Rolder would have gotten a sack if the quarterbacks were live. He stopped his blitz and allowed Warren to throw the ball.

Warren’s two touchdown passes also came against the reserves. He still made some great throws, but let’s cool the jets and not overreact. Campbell praised Warren for his knowledge of the offense. But Orji was solid too.

Orji also couldn’t really run the ball. He did run for a touchdown on the opening drive, but Michigan football wasn’t calling designed runs for him. That’s going to be the best part of his game, so it was hard to evaluate him, but I thought he did fine throwing the ball too (12-of-18). There were some misses, especially down the field, but as Campbell said, Orji can actually throw the ball.

Jadyn Davis flashed some potential but he’s a year away. Jayden Denegal was also just so-so. I don’t see him as a contender to start in the fall. I do think that Michigan’s starter is coming out of this group, but who?

The QB battle isn’t over

While the quarterbacks showed some promise — that they could move the ball and score points, nobody won the job on Saturday. My view is that Alex Orji, Davis Warren, and Jack Tuttle still have an opportunity.

People want to scoff at Jack Tuttle. He was the primary backup last season and completed 88 percent of his passes, although he attempted just 17. He was a top-200 recruit coming out of high school though.

Tuttle has also started Big Ten games and is a veteran quarterback. I’m just not ready to rule him out and remember, in 2022, J.J. McCarthy missed the entire spring and won the job two games in because of his performance in fall camp.

It’s way too early to name anyone the starter though or even think about. If a game was played tomorrow, my bet is still on Alex Orji. He’s going to have a role one way or another — he did last season with McCarthy at quarterback. But if he can throw the ball well enough, he’s the best option. A platoon is also possible. It’s not ideal but with that defense, Michigan just needs to find a way to get to 20 points.

That will win most games on the schedule. Maybe the best thing Warren and Orji did was avoid turnovers, which will be half the battle this season because the run game is going to be just fine. Better than fine actually.

Donovan Edwards looks different, in a good way

Donovan Edwards didn’t get many carries, but in the short time he was on the field, he looked better than he did last season. He just had a different feel running between the tackles — he wasn’t so rushed.

Edwards has been a part-time player for Michigan football during most of his career. That’s been due to Blake Corum, injuries, and other circumstances. When he’s gotten his opportunities as a featured back, he’s shined and he’s going to have a huge season.

With a guy like Edwards, allowing him to get a rhythm will help immensely. If he gets the ball 20 or so times per game, he’s bound to rip off a long run or two. Also, please make life easy on the quarterbacks and design more passes to Edwards.

Just get him the ball as much as possible and the offense will be just fine.

Defensive depth looks fine

There has been talk about Michigan football needs to add some depth on the defensive side of the ball, but after Saturday’s game, I don’t see a huge need.

T.J. Guy and Kechaun Bennett both look capable at EDGE. Enow Etta and Aymeric Koumba have taken big leaps this offseason and I feel great about linebacker. Jimmy Rolder played really well. Cole Sullivan made some impressive players plus Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham have been on point.

The tackling was really solid. Michigan football flew to the ball and the Wolverines weren’t afraid to hit from the opening play. Derrick Moore looks like a beast. The secondary also held up well.

Zeke Berry looked great in the nickel role. I also was pleased with Ja’Den McBurrows, Jyaire Hill, and D.J. Waller. Waller even had an interception. He also gave up a big pass play on a blown assignment.

You never say never to a good player, but wide receiver, kicker, and quarterback feel like the biggest needs to me that could be addressed in the portal, with cornerback and other defensive depth as a distant fourth.

We didn’t see the defensive starters much, but we saw enough to know that this defense is going to be elite once again, especially if it can avoid key departures in the next 10 days.

Receivers flashed but it’s still a huge need

Frederick Moore had a stellar spring game, just like we said he would. Kendrick Bell also stood out, while we already know what Semaj Morgan and Tyler Morris can do.

It was also good to see Colston Loveland lined up out wide. I’d like to see that more this season, but as good as the wideouts were on Saturday, at times, Michigan football needs to make an addition. Campbell even admitted that after the game.

There’s no big boundary receiver like Cornelius Johnson. Morris, Moore, and Bell all looked capable of making plays. Peyton O’Leary had a nice catch as well. Yet, the portal is loaded with wideouts right now and Michigan football needs to get one.

Five scholarship receivers just aren’t enough.

Thank you for reading Blue by Ninety. For more Michigan Athletics and Big Ten content from Blue by Ninety, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Also, be sure to check out our shop and our podcast, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all other streaming platforms.