The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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24 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2023 BY CHRIS BALAS T he 2023 Michigan football team boasts potentially elite talent on both sides of the ball and veteran depth all over the field. On offense, the Wolverines return their starting quarterback, their top two run- ning backs (including a unanimous All- American), several receivers, and many pieces of an offensive line coming off back-to-back Joe Moore Awards as the nation's best unit up front. In short, there's a lot to like. As for their identity, offensive coordi- nator/line coach Sherrone Moore, now the one and only OC after Matt Weiss' departure, made no bones about — and no apologies for — the Michigan offensive approach. "We want to be balanced, be able to do both [run and pass]," Moore said this spring. "Really, the division is what our players are good at … what J.J. [McCar- thy] wants to throw. How we're going to attack the defense every week is going to change. There will probably be a game we'll run the ball more, and people will be mad at us. And if it helps us win, we'll be OK with it. "So, really, it's about winning. What- ever we've got to do to win, that's what we're going to do. We're not going to value the opinions of people that don't under- stand what we're doing." But they are going to do what they do best, and it all starts up front. O-LINE WILL RETOOL, BUT HAS PLENTY OF OPTIONS The offense received an offseason boost when two-time All-Big Ten selection and left guard Trevor Keegan chose to return for a fifth year and got two-time All-Big Ten right guard Zak Zinter to come back for his senior season. The two started talking about it after the Fiesta Bowl loss to TCU, noting they didn't want to leave on that note. They didn't come back to sit, obviously, but Moore isn't worried about them rest- ing on their accomplishments. "At every position, it's earned," Moore said. "But there are guys that have started games that just won't let you take their spot. That's just how they work. That's how they go about their business. So, if you think you're going to go take Trevor Keegan's spot, you can go try, but he's probably not going to let you. Same thing with Zak Zinter." And probably for senior Karsen Barn- hart, as well. Senior Trente Jones started the season at right tackle last year be- fore getting banged up, opening the door for Barnhart. He played well enough in his 10 games (nine starts) to earn honor- able mention All-Big Ten accolades and Michigan's Most Improved Player award for the offense. "Last year I was getting into that role, becoming a full-fledged starter," he said. "Now I want to start all 15 [games] and have a big-time role in this offense and on this offensive line." Barnhart and Jones will continue to battle it out at both tackle spots, but they'll have competition. Former four- star prep Myles Hinton, brother of former Michigan defensive tackle Chris Hinton, transferred in from Stanford. He didn't play this spring due to injury, but he's a talent. LaDarius Henderson will join the team as a grad transfer from Arizona State this summer, and senior Jeffrey Persi played a lot last year with one start. He still needs to get stronger, but he'll be in the mix. At center, junior Raheem Anderson has made a move. He started coming on last year and played well at Rutgers in backup action. Stanford transfer Drake Nugent, limited this spring after surgery, and ju- nior Greg Crippen will push him. "It's a competition," Moore said. "Even Graduate student offensive tackle Karsen Barnhart earned nine starts in 10 games played last fall en route to being named Michigan's Most Improved Player on offense. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL SPRINGING FORWARD Michigan Offense Has Star Power And Depth