Sherrone Moore heard ‘tactical things’ about QB transfer Mikey Keene

TAMPA, FLA. — Michigan football added a proven veteran quarterback out of the transfer portal in Mikey Keene last week. Keene has one year of eligibility left and is expected to compete with No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood for the starting role in 2025. Keene was one of the final players to sign with the Wolverines before the winter portal window closed over the weekend.

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Sherrone Moore on transfer QB Mikey Keene

Earlier this month, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said a vital aspect of a transfer quarterback was if they fit the program as a whole. Keene made an impression on Moore as both a player and a person.

“Just heard great things and tactical things about him as a leader, and really excited for him to push that room and give us an experienced guy that we feel that he can win us games, and that was the most important piece of it,” Moore said at a press conference Monday.

Freshman quarterbacks rarely start for a program as successful as Michigan. However, Underwood is a rare talent, and Moore said Keene is up for a challenge.

“Yeah, it’s open competition. Nobody is promised a certain spot,” Moore said. “Everybody has got to earn it, and he really understands that, even with the guys we’ve brought in. So he’s really excited to push the whole room.”

Familiar Faces

On Dec. 13 Michigan officially hired Chip Lindsey as its next offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Moore said Lindsey had history with the former Fresno State QB.

“He’s a guy that’s played a lot of football, that has a lot of experience and made plays at all different levels,” Moore said. “He’s familiar with Chip Lindsey (which) was really huge. They had a connection previously. That helped.

“But just all the reviews that we got from him as a person, as a player, and then it was huge that we played him this year. We saw him live in action. We saw him make some really good throws and do some things dynamic. So (we are) really ready for him to get going in this program.”

Keene went 22-of-36 for 235 yards and one touchdown in a loss to the Wolverines in the 2024 season opener. He threw two interceptions against the Wolverines and had his fifth worst QBR of the season (41.6).

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