Michigan spring game lie detector: What did we actually learn on Saturday?

The 2024 Michigan spring game is in the books. It was a jovial occasion which included a ring(s) ceremony for Team 144 beforehand, and a physical scrimmage between equal parts of Team 145. Jake Butt was on play-by-play. Charles Woodson carried around a Michigan-inspired WWE Championship belt. New head coach Sherrone Moore couldn’t stop smiling. The vibes were immaculate.

However celebratory the atmosphere for the past and the excitement personified for the future, there was still a football game to analyze. The spring game “told” us several things about the Michigan Wolverines, but which are true? Which are false?

Last year’s game would have led you to believe that running back Benjamin Hall would have been an impactful RB3 and that Peyton O’Leary was a breakout candidate. Both lies, but the truth of the matter was that edge Josaiah Stewart had an elite bend and that corner Amorion Walker was not ready.

While the game told us several things about several players again this year, we need to put them through the lie detector and determine which ring true and which smell of lies.

Davis Warren is a contender for QB1

Answer: True

Quarterback Davis Warren was largely an afterthought entering the spring game. As fans divided into camps for the upcoming quarterback battle, it was primarily for the electric Alex Orji, the veteran Jack Tuttle, or the freshman Jadyn Davis. Warren was not discouraged.

On Saturday, Warren completed 6-of-9 passes for a game-high 136 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and took zero sacks. Beyond the numbers, Warren looked poised in the pocket and demonstrated true command of the offense. It was a welcomed surprise from the easiest player to root for on Michigan’s roster.

Tavi Dunlap is RB3

Answer: False

Tavierre Dunlap was the spring game’s leading rusher with 66 yards on 15 carries. He ran decisive, hard, and could be in the mix for the sneakily coveted third running back role.

However, this competition is far from determined. Hall was unable to deliver a sequel to last year’s blockbuster performance, but it would be foolish to count him out after one practice. True freshman Jordan Marshall won’t be on campus until the summer and despite his age, he will have a say before the season opener against Fresno State.

With three viable contenders — not to mention a lurking, albeit oft-injured Cole Cabana — it is impossible to accurately gauge the positional battle.

Tight end Marlin Klein is the leading breakout candidate

Answer: True

Marlin Klein is listed at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, and is rumored to be one of the fastest players on the team. The best tight end in the country, Colston Loveland, heralded Klein as, “...the fastest tight end, probably the strongest tight end, biggest tight end…” of anyone in Michigan’s room.

Match these words with the performance we saw on Saturday, and the German appears to be destined for inevitable stardom.

Special teams is a concern

Answer: True

Punter Tommy Doman averaged an abysmal 31 yards across three punts, while kicker Adam Samaha finished the day 1-for-2 on field goals, including a chip-shot miss from 30 yards.

Firstly, what the hell? Secondly, we have seen Doman’s peak, so I am less concerned about that than I am about Samaha. All the talk this offseason has been about adding a transfer at corner or wide receiver, but it seems that kicker should be the highest priority on that list. Missing a 30-yard kick in practice isn’t the end-all-be-all, but it’s hard to not worry about how Samaha will perform when faced with a pressure kick from 40-plus with the season on the line.

Michigan’s defensive line could be better this season

Answer: True

Over the last three years, the team with the best defensive line in the country has won the National Championship. If this trend holds true in 2024, Michigan better make way for four more rings. Michigan’s front four — Josaiah Stewart, Kenneth Grant, Mason Graham, Derrick Moore — is known and will be feared in the fall.

However, it’s the rising depth that could set this group apart yet again. Vets T.J. Guy and Kechaun Bennett play like missiles on the outside, while a myriad of younger players like Aymeric Koumba, Enow Etta, Breeon Ishmail, Dominic Nichols, Cam Brandt and Trey Pierce all look prepared to wreak havoc in extended roles.

Wide receiver Kendrick Bell will play a role this fall

Answer: False

Kendrick Bell was awesome on Saturday. Ronnie’s little brother hauled in two catches for 53 yards and one touchdown. But similar to Darrius Clemons two years ago and O’Leary last year, Bell’s best football remains further away.

To borrow a phrase from my podcast partner, Bell still needs a little more seasoning. Michigan’s wide receiver room is not deep, which will leave the door cracked, but Semaj Morgan, Tyler Morris, Peyton O’Leary and Fred Moore are all firmly ahead of Bell at this moment, not to mention, a transfer addition seems likely.

Speaking of Moore…

Fred Moore is the new WR1

Answer: False

This honor is still with Semaj Morgan until proven otherwise, but my goodness was Moore electric on Saturday. With shades of Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley in his game, Moore looked explosive, reliable, and most importantly, comfortable. Michigan pass catchers are going to have a fun competition this season with who will be the official yards after catch (YAC) king.

Donovan Edwards is a Heisman contender

Answer: True

After adding 10 pounds since the end of the season, running back Donovan Edwards looked massive on the field and paradoxically looked quicker. With the uncertainty at quarterback and increased workload — I am currently knocking on all of the wood in my house before this next part — if Edwards can stay healthy, expect him in New York this December.

The secondary no longer needs a transfer

Answer: True

Perhaps the biggest shock of the entire game was the number of players that emerged as contenders for starting secondary positions. Presumably, Will Johnson, Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson will occupy three of the five starting positions, but as we saw last year, Michigan would love to use its depth on the back end to help keep players fresh and prepared when the inevitable injury happens.

Guys such as Zeke Berry, Ja’Den McBurrows, D.J. Waller and Jyaire Hill all proved during the spring game why they should have bigger roles this fall, and while only two of them will earn the “starter” moniker, all of them will have an impact.

The offensive line needs help

Answer: False

To quote a washed supervillain, “R-E-L-A-X.”

Michigan’s three most experienced offensive linemen — Myles Hinton, Josh Priebe, Giovanni El-Hadi — did not play in the spring game, and the mix-matched units up front were competing against the best defensive line in the country. Most were left discouraged by the big uglies up front, but I wasn’t among them.

Several young players — Blake Frazier, Evan Link, Nathan Efobi, Andrew Gentry (young in football experience, not age) — demonstrated they are advanced in their development, while a few wily vets like Raheem Anderson, Greg Crippen and Jeff Persi showed the benefits of staying in Ann Arbor throughout their careers.