NFL
By: Brock Vierra
The Michigan Wolverines have finally done it. They’ve accomplished a goal nearly 75 years in the making. Michigan has finally won a consensus national championship. With a dominating victory over Washington, Jim Harbaugh, the adopted son of Ann Arbor, the former QB, the man molded by Bo Schembechler and raised by Jack Harbaugh returned to his alma mater and delivered on a promise made to a great program that laid in obscurity. However, the parade has concluded and the victory is now a thing of the past. For Michigan and Harbaugh, both must look to the future and it could be a future without each other.
With Jim Harbaugh taking interviews with NFL teams and a plethora of Michigan players set to enter the NFL draft, the Michigan Wolverines sit in murky waters as we enter 2024. With four new teams joining the Big 10, the expanded College Football Playoffs on the horizon, and a massive player/ coaching movement throughout the country, I sat down with the host of One and Dunne Radio and Michigan football insider Ryan Dunne to try and gain some clarity on where the Wolverines will be in 2024.
Let’s talk Michigan
Vierra: Hello Ryan, thank you for joining me. Congrats on a phenomenal season. With a national championship secured, Jim Harbaugh has completed the initial goals he set out to accomplish when he returned to his alma mater. Does he return in 2024?
Dunne: It’s hard to see all that Jim Harbaugh has accomplished over the last three years and think he decides to come back. Three straight wins over Ohio State, three straight Big Ten titles, three straight college football playoff appearances, and now, a National Championship. He has done what he has set out to do. He has brought Michigan back to relevancy, made them a national powerhouse again, and silenced all the doubters. With all of his college accomplishments complete, the NCAA still with a potential punishment to come, and the ever changing landscape that is college football, I’ll be shocked if he coaches for Michigan next year.
Vierra: Let’s say Harbaugh moves on. Is Sherrone Moore the clear replacement and if so, does Michigan keep Jesse Minter?
Dunne: Sherrone Moore has to be the guy. Michigan has developed such a culture and a winning structure that works, that I feel if they hired someone from the outside, it would all come crumbling down. The players love Moore, and in the toughest moments and toughest stretch of the regular season, he stepped up and proved he has what it takes.
When it comes to Jesse Minter, I doubt he’ll be back if Harbaugh goes to the NFL. Minter wants to get back to the NFL, and if Harbaugh goes, Minter is going with him.
Vierra: If Moore is not available upon Harbaugh’s potential departure, who would you like to see in charge of the program?
Dunne: The only other person on the staff that I could see getting the opportunity is associate coach Mike Hart. Someone who has been there, a Michigan man, and can keep what they have still in motion. Now, if I had to pick someone outside of the program, it would have to be a homerun hire and I just don’t personally see any out there that would work. Jedd Fisch was my choice but now that he’s going to Washington, I don’t see much else out there.
Vierra: With a National Championship and a Rose Bowl victory, is Jim Harbaugh the greatest Michigan coach of all time?
Dunne: It’s a tough call but I’ll say yes. Think about this. Where was Michigan before he arrived? In the dumps and a joke in college football. First year he comes in, he goes 10-3. And besides the covid year, he’s only had one season where he didn’t win 10 games or more. But then it came to a point where his coaching staff he had prior to 2021 was limited.
They couldn’t beat Ohio State, couldn’t win the conference, and couldn’t improve. So, he had to make the tough call and let go a lot of staff members, bring in younger coaches, and essentially start over with a new culture and new mindset. I’m not sure how many coaches can do that, but Jim did and that’s why I can say I believe he is.
Vierra: Rank Bo Schembechler, Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Jim Harbaugh, Harry Kipke, Bennie Oosterbaan and Fielding H. Yost in terms of best tenure at Michigan.
Dunne: So for me, it’s hard because I can only go based on the resumes of all of them. Let’s go Harbaugh, Fielding Yost, Lloyd Carr, Bo Schembechler, Bennie Oosterbann, Gary Moeller, and Harry Kipke.
Vierra: Does J.J. McCarthy warrant a first-round selection?
Dunne: I’ve been back and forth myself in regards to this. Every year, we see QBs ranked high, only for them to be drafted later than projected because the “analysts” were wrong. At one point this season, JJ was the favorite to win the Heisman, but slowly lost his chances as the season went on because of how certain games played out (i.e. Penn State). But the offense he played in limited JJ to what he could do.
If he played in the style of offense Washington played, then his numbers would’ve been much better. I do think he has the tools to be a first round pick, but I could see where he’s drafted in the second round because teams know they can hold off on using a first rounder on him.
Vierra: Michigan will be losing a lot of talent this offseason. Which players could you see Michigan acquiring and which players do you predict will step up in 2024?
Dunne: This team is going to look a lot different in 2024, and I mean a lot. With JJ officially going in the draft, the Wolverines could look into a year transfer QB if they want, maybe Will Rogers or Taulia Tagovailoa to fill the void for the year. Someone who could step up is Donovan Edwards. Edwards finished last year on such a high note, it was odd to see him be so quiet throughout the year until the title game where he scored twice on his first two carries. With Blake Corum going to the NFL, Edwards will have the chance to be the feature back.
Vierra: Any recruits or transfers that you think will be a difference maker in 2024?
Dunne: Jaishawn Barham coming over from Maryland is huge for the linebacker group. With him and Ernest Haussman, Michigan is set at linebacker after losing Junior Colson and Mike Barrett to the draft.
Vierra: What is your prediction for 2024?
Dunne: I have said this so many times before the season even started in 2023. I could see Michigan having a down year in 2024. They were going all in on the National title, and they did it. Because of that, a lot of players accomplished the “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions” mantra, and are going to the NFL after winning it all. I could Michigan going 8-4, at best 9-3, especially with teams like Oregon coming to the Big Ten, Penn State possibly being better, and Ohio State doing everything they can to beat Michigan for the first time this decade.
Vierra: How will Michigan adjust and perform in the new Big 10?
Dunne: In 2024, it’ll be a adjustment but not one they can’t handle, especially if they are able to keep their staff together for the most part. I think they’ll do enough to be competitive in games and win some, obviously. But it could be a new winner in the Big Ten for the first time since 2020 when the Big Ten made adjustments for Ohio State to play in the conference title game.
I’d like to thank Ryan Dunne for his time and efforts. For all things Michigan football, listen to his show One and Dunne Radio.
For more college football content, watch the season finale of College Football Forecast below!
