Last season was the final word on a uniquely American pastime, a maximalized rugby/soccer offshoot that began with a spring 1879 trial of Walter Camp's new rules, and concluded with its final championship last January.

Stipulating that Michigan is the final victor of college football's remarkable 144-year year run, like any good MMRPG reaching the end of original content doesn't mean we have to stop playing.* The winners of the first and last games of the mainline series not only plan on continuing to compete in the endgame, but are actively preparing to do so right this very moment. Let's see what's happening. But first the ground rules.

How spring lies: The vast majority of spring chatter is pablum. Established starters get praised for their leadership, focus, and offseason workout regimens. Obvious new ones get compared to the guys they're stepping in for. Coach pressers spin vagarities then name some dudes. Insider information is often more precise, but also usually planted.

How spring truths: Typical things that stand out as positives are players that every practice observer feels they need to mention (e.g. Sainristil), surprisingly short position battles (same), and young depth guys who don't need to get hypes but are brought up anyways (Loveland in '22). Typically negative heuristics are position changes, getting named after a younger player at one's position, battles that go on longer than they should, and when the questions they're answering aren't the more pressing ones we're asking (conversely if we're worried about backups and they talk about the starter it's a good thing).

Thus the format where we start with expectations, and measure what we're hearing against those.

Quick note on paywalled info. There is some, noted with ($). If I'm sharing it anyways it means there's either a lot more for subscribers at the link, or the info therein is so old it's already well percolated through social media and by that point it's better to credit the original source than pretend it doesn't exist.

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* [That only happens once the corporate overlords who bought the IP stack so many subscription fees, microtransactions, shortsighted DLCs, and too-disruptive in-game ads into the thing that the critical mass of people who were hanging onto the diluted product for nostalgia finally let go.]

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Quarterback

Oh Denegal is having a bad week, is he?

The question we're asking is: Who's the quarterback?

But they're acting like it's: That.

What are we hearing? No thought of portal, Jadyn Davis has INTANGIBLES, and Orji is seizing the job because nobody can throw well enough at this point to make up for what Orji can do with his legs.

With Tuttle "working through something" the official channels are making every candidate equal. Tyler Morris:

Each one has their own thing that they're good at, I would say," Morris explained. "I wouldn't necessarily say there was one that's caught my eye, but there's been days where one might stand out for the day and then the next one -- the next practice, another guy. … Alex, obviously he can move. Davis just getting the ball to people. Jayden Denegal, he made some good throws. Jadyn Davis, I mean, he's made some great throws too."

Mason Graham seemed to confirm some insider notes I've gotten that Orji's running ability is standing out from a group that's been struggling to throw it to their own guys.

"I mean they’re all doing a good job — but Alex Orji can make plays with his legs ... You don’t know what he’s doing, even when he doesn’t have the ball because he’s a weapon. … when there’s somebody back there that can just run at any given time and you’ve gotta chase him down, it’s in the back of your mind throughout the game."

Brian Jean-Mary also noted that while he's been impressed by the ground game, the offense is "finding its footing." That is a nicer way of saying the first practices with pads have resembled an Iowa spring game via both Sam and Josh Henschke ($):

Wink’s pressures and blitzes “handled” the offense thoroughly. As for quarterbacks, we’re told that a lot of interceptions were thrown this week and there were some inconsistencies from all quarterbacks. … the offense needs time to get rhythm and gel, a lot of early pressure by Wink doesn’t necessarily allow that but it’s good practice.

When we do hear about a play in the passing game it's not coming from the pocket, which there's one guy who's likely to still be standing when not in it. Josaiah Stewart on Orji:

He can escape the pocket, but believe it or not, he can throw," he said. "People might not believe that, social media or whatnot, say he can't throw, but he can throw. I've seen him throw dots down the field, and it's worse when you just almost get there and he gets the ball off, and it's a touchdown. He's great at doing that. He's great at escaping and getting the ball downfield."

On their podcast (video) Henschke shared that his insiders think Orji is #1, Davis Warren #2, not far behind is Jadyn Davis, who is your presumptive starter in 2025, and then Denegal, who didn't have that great of a week. Jadyn "continues to stack good days."

What it means?

Orji hasn't grasped the offense but he's probably going to have to lead it, because his legs are a bona fide Big Ten-caliber weapon, and none of the other QBs' skills rise to that yet. Denegal shouldn't be written off for one bad week but it sounds like it was quite the bad week. Jadyn Davis chatter is meaningful for the future.

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[After THE JUMP: Focused on becoming the best on and off the field.]

Previously: The Story. Quarterback. Running Back. Wide Receiver. Tight End. 

INTERIOR OL: YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY

Michigan's offensive line is coming off back-to-back Joe "Sherrone" Moore awards. They get back six guys who started games last year and added two of the Pac-12's best OL, plus a former five-star with a season and change of starting experience. Cocky? Nah. Call it confid—

On Zinter's proposed formation with 10 offensive linemen and a running back

You know, I get ... every day the linemen are sending me plays and formations. I'm like, 'can you guys just worry about what you got to do?'

Ok, cocky.

I am rapturous about Sherrone Moore rolling into the building every morning only for Keegan and Zinter to confront him with their latest ludicrous offense against God and football. They are both wearing full pads and helmets. Keegan sports his trademark faceful of eyeblack. They show him a play where three offensive linemen pull in different directions and then the ball is lateraled to a fourth OL. Moore tries very hard to remember that these guys are his ticket to a head coaching job next year and says he'll take it under advisement. Zinter and Keegan high five, elated. Exit stage right, repeat every day of the summer.

In addition to those two guys, Michigan added a two year starter and All Pac-12 honorable mention center to go with two more guys who I'd be perfectly comfortable starting. And the top backup at guard looked like he'd start at a majority of Big Ten schools last year, when he was a redshirt freshman.

Sometimes I think back to that time Rich Rodriguez got the Michigan job and arrived to find out he had a total of seven scholarship OL, one of whom was immediately lost for the season. This section's title is a riff on old lady cigarette ads, and I assume Rodriguez smoked several packs of lady cigarettes upon beholding the roster. That's over! ALL OF THAT IS OVER.

Michigan's offensive line is now a zombie apocalypse. You can shoot as many guys in the head with a shotgun as you want but the pile is gonna lurch forward with you under it.

[After THE JUMP: there is a PFF intern who deserves a whoopin']

Previously: Last year’s profiles, K Adam Samaha, K James Turner (Tr), S Brandyn Hillman, CB DJ Waller, CB Cameron Calhoun, CB Jyaire Hill, HSP/LB Jason Hewlett, LB Hayden Moore, LB Semaj Bridgeman, LB Ernest Hausmann (Tr), OLB Breeon Ishmail, DE Aymeric Koumba, DE Enow Etta, DE Josaiah Stewart (Tr), DT Brooks Bahr, DT Cameron Brandt, DT Trey Pierce, OT Evan Link, OT Myles Hinton (Tr), OT LaDarius Henderson (Tr)

Southfield (West Bloomfield), MI – 6'3"/305
		247: 6'3/300                           3.97*	4*, 90, NR overall #26 IOL, #5 MI
		On3: 6'3/290                           3.68*	3*, 88, NR overall #56 IOL, #10 MI
		Rivals: 6'3/281                           4.07*	4*, 5.8, #241 overall #15 OG, #5 MI
		ESPN: 6'3/280                           4.33*	4*, 82, #169 ovr #8 OG, #3 MI, #12 MW
		Composite               4.07*/4.03*	4*, #286/#310 Ovr #14/#19 IOL, #4 MI
		MGoAverage                           3.98*	3.5*, #412/794 Ovr #47/82 OGs since '90
		YMRMFSPA	Raheem Anderson
Other Suitors	Neb, BC, Mizzou
Previously On MGoBlog	Hello by Alex Drain
Notes	Teammate: Semaj Morgan. "Humble Beast."
Film:
Senior Highlights:Junior Highlights:Hudl. EJ's clips. UA 1-on-1s (more) and Day1(1:26) RCS Indy. Future50. Interview. EJ's take.

Four years ago, Brian's writeup of a similar high school prospect cautioned recruiting reporters to never *ever* give an offensive lineman a "high floor."

But he's the kind of OL that makes people forget he's an OL, that most weaselly of positions to project. I feel like the guy watching a horror movie screaming "don't go in that shed full of meat hooks!" at Steve Lorenz:

"Rumler is maybe the most 'sure thing' prospect in Michigan's class, regardless of position."

Don't go in the shed!

"Highest floor in the class, no doubt. Offensive line projections can be kind of a crapshoot, but I think he's a multi-year starter."

Patrick Kugler's in the shed, Steve.

Since 2021, Rumler has been a Kent State backup, and On3's EJ Holland has become the latest youngish recruiting reporter to venture into the shed.

I’ve seen Herring live on a number of occasions, and I don’t believe there should have been a debate on whether or not to take him. Yes, I get Herring’s ceiling is limited. But he has an extremely high floor at a position that can be tough to evaluate.

Oh no it's happening again.

…you don't really see the super high NFL potential or high ceiling, and I think that's what On3 is looking for. But sort of like Mason Graham last cycle I just don't really care you know?

If it was just EJ disagreeing with everybody that might be one thing, but in this case it's EJ and everyone versus the people who do the rankings at On3. Here's 247's Midwest analyst and veteran of many OL recruitments Allen Trieu:

has just been extremely reliable every step of the way. I've never gone to a game or a camp where anybody said, ‘well, it wasn't Amir's best day.’ And he's been to a lot of them. His performance was always exactly the same. And he's gone to the best of the best Under Armor Future 50 events and (competed) against the best in the country. He's going to be a really good player at Michigan.

Rivals lead scout Adam Friedman:

Herring is one of the most consistent offensive linemen on either team and he has a chance to play a lot at Michigan.

…and national recruiting analyst Clint Cosgrove:

Amir Herring could carve out an early role in the Michigan offense. Herring was the only freshman to start on the offensive line during Michigan's spring game, and he could be an injury away from making an impact as a true freshman this fall.

Even our own Alex Drain:

He may have some limitations, but a relatively safe and projectable OL is not the worst thing to have in the class, especially when you need bodies.

At least he used relatively.

[After THE JUMP: Let's talk me into the shed.]