Fifteen things we expect to learn about Michigan football at Big Ten Media Days

Big Ten Media Days will take place Wednesday and Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the same building Michigan Wolverines football won the last two Big Ten championship games. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, senior running back Blake Corum, senior defensive tackle Kris Jenkins and graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil will represent the program Thursday.

Harbaugh speak with reporters for roughly an hour, while the players will do so for half about 30 minutes. During their sessions, we’ll be able to glean quite a bit about the Michigan football team ahead of the 2023 season, which begins Sept. 2 against East Carolina. Here are 15 things we expect to learn about.

1. Team culture, mentality and leadership

It doesn’t matter the amount of returning production or starters coming back, every team is different. Four of Michigan’s five captains from 22 are no longer on the roster, for example. Nine Wolverines were chosen in the NFL Draft this spring, and replacements are needed.

With that, every season has a different identity, look and feel — positive, negative or neutral, it’s proven to be the case. The players live and breath it every single day and will be able to tell us about it.

It wasn’t until Big Ten Media Days in 2021 (thanks in part to the pandemic) that we really found out how much that Michigan team was taking it upon itself to turn things around after the previous campaign. Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Ross said the 2-4 2020 season “wasn’t Michigan football,” and despite the Wolverines flying under the radar, stated that they were coming for Ohio State and to win championships. They did just that, ending the season on that very field in Indianapolis as confetti rained down.

It’s in a venue like this — exciting, but casual and laid back in a sense — that you can get a proper vibe check on a team.

2. Goals and Jim Harbaugh’s view on the season

Harbaugh comes to Big Ten Media Days every season with a mantra of sorts. A lot of the themes are similar to the previous season, but it reveals how he’s viewing the upcoming Michigan season.

Last season, he spoke of a flawless offseason and guys observing players like Hutchinson, emulating them and surpassing them. Earlier this summer, he discussed “cultural momentum,” and how unflappable the culture is when outside distractions come about.

He has been reluctant to publicize Michigan’s team goals in the past, but has laid them out quite clearly the last two years. Last summer, he said stated plainly that the Wolverines set out to beat Michigan State, beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten championship and win the national title.

We’re interested to hear what’s on his mind as fall camp approaches.

3. What’s different this time around

Ever since a disastrous 2-4 2020 season, Michigan’s trajectory has been positive in a linear fashion. The Wolverines went 12-1 in 2021 and 13-0 in 2022, but fell in the CFP semifinals each time. Now, even more so than in the past, they’re stressing their desire to play for a national championship, with “Houston or bust” on display in the facility and the ‘Beat Georgia’ period during practice (we want to know what that period entails, too!).

Harbaugh doesn’t love talking about how things have changed — good or bad — since he usually avoids making comparisons like the plague. But perhaps his players in attendance, who have been around for a long time, will be able to shed some insight on how Michigan is operating differently heading into this season.

4. Players who have made gains in the weight room

The Athletic‘s Bruce Feldman will be making his way around Lucas Oil Stadium, talking to different coaches about their top athletes as he puts together his annual “freaks list,” which Michigan is always well-represented on. But he won’t be the only one asking about players who have been impressing in the weight room and in conditioning.

Last year, Harbaugh called sophomore defensive tackle Kenneth Grant a “gift from the football gods,” though he didn’t name him at the time. He said earlier this summer that junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy has undergone his “man year” of maturing physically.

A lot can happen over the summer, Harbaugh has said. We’re excited to hear about others who are making strides with their strength, speed and agility.

5. How transfers are looking

We got a glimpse at some of Michigan’s incoming transfers during the spring game, but there are a host of them who didn’t suit up in early April, including graduate center Drake Nugent, senior tackle Myles Hinton, graduate tackle LaDarius Henderson, graduate cornerback Josh Wallace and graduate kicker James Turner.

Those who were injured are said to be healthy, and Wallace and Turner have now joined the team. All five, plus the incoming transfers who did play in the spring game, could have big roles on this team. Harbaugh and the Michigan players in Indy have seen them up close and personal and should have some insight on how they can impact this fall.

6. The identity of the offense

The Michigan offense returns McCarthy at quarterback, Corum and junior Donovan Edwards at running back, three starting offensive linemen and some of its top receivers, yet it could have a different identity this fall. Harbaugh actually brought it up himself back in June, predicting that the Wolverines will have a run-pass split close to 50-50 this season, after rushing on 61.9 percent of downs a year ago.

In addition, offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore is now fully in charge of the offense, after co-coordinator Matt Weiss was dismissed in the winter. Surely that will bring some changes, especially to some of the aspects Weiss worked closely on, including the red zone and third downs.

7. How Michigan will manage so many capable offensive linemen

Michigan’s second-string offensive line might be able to start and be a solid group in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are extremely deep there, and they’re all embracing competition. But there are a number of different options for Moore and Co. with the starting lineup, especially at tackle. Henderson is the favorite to start at left tackle, but he still has a lot to prove in fall camp. Graduates Karsen Barnhart and Trente Jones both have starting experience, as does Hinton.

There are 148 combined starts on the offensive line, and Michigan will have to pick out the best five players and where to place them. It’s a great problem to have, but it’s still something to solve.

8. How the defensive line will replace two starters

Michigan has a bunch of names that could step up on the defensive line, which lost Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Mike Morris on the edge and consensus first-team All-Big Ten performer Mazi Smith at nose tackle. It’s not a given that the Wolverines will have the reinforcements, though it does seem likely, at least at EDGE.

9. Which pass rushers have stepped up

The last point leads us to this one. Michigan needs pass rushers to step up this season, and there aren’t many proven ones at EDGE. Senior Jaylen Harrell is more of a run stuffer, sophomore Derrick Moore showed flashes in limited time last season, senior Braiden McGregor is still waiting to break out and junior Josaiah Stewart has to prove he can do what he did in the Sun Belt, racking up 16 sacks in two seasons, in the Big Ten. Odds are, Michigan will have a few pass rushers step up. The question is, will one or two be great or elite as opposed to just good, and can they do it in the biggest games? We’ll hear more about who’s emerging this week.

10. How the cornerback situation is shaping up

One of the few concerns for this Michigan team is who will start at cornerback opposite sophomore Will Johnson. Harbaugh predicted it would be sophomore Amorion Walker, before the Wolverines brought in Wallace from UMass. Others, like junior Ja’Den McBurrows and freshman Jyaire Hill, are also in the mix. Sainristil can also play on the outside in addition to nickel. How Wallace is fitting in and the others are coming along are two main points we hope to hear about.

11. How Jim Harbaugh feels about the special teams unit

Special teams was huge in Michigan winning several games over the last two seasons, but kicker Jake Moody and punter Brad Robbins are both off to the NFL. The Wolverines added Turner from Louisville and also have junior Tommy Doman, who’s been waiting in the wings. It’s fair to expect a step back, but how reliable will the duo be?

12. Breakout candidates

We have our picks for who’s going to break out — sophomore tight end Colston Loveland on offense and Derrick Moore on defense come to mind — but who has impressed Harbaugh and the Michigan player representatives will be telling.

13. Most improved players

The same goes for Michigan players who haven’t gotten opportunity in the past or haven’t been ready to contribute but might now get their chance. As mentioned, moves can be made in the summer, and we’re excited to see which Wolverines have positioned themselves well ahead of fall camp.

14. How NIL efforts are going

Harbaugh hit the road with linebackers coach Chris Partridge, director of player development Chris Bryant and others to speak with donors across the country this summer as part of the newly-formed ‘M Power’ initiative. The goal is for donors to support Michigan players by donating to collectives and giving them advice on business. They’re shooting for raising $12 million, and Harbaugh will be asked about what kind of progress they’ve made.

15. If there’s enough offensive firepower

The one thing Michigan has lacked offensively over the last several years, besides having an elite quarterback, is possessing a game-breaking wide receiver. Michigan may not have that this season, but between the wideouts, tight ends and running backs, the Maize and Blue should have enough firepower to stress defenses. The question is whether they’ll have everything at their disposal — run or pass — on a given down.

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