Michigan’s start under Sherrone Moore was rough, and they just kept hitting bumps with some tough losses. But somehow they still managed to finish their season with an 8-5 record and a bowl win over Alabama. A perfect end to a stormy year. Now, Michigan football aims to recapture its 2023 championship glory and reclaim its title as college football’s winningest program. But that’s not going to be a walk in the park as a challenging season looms, with insiders dropping truth bombs about key players’ injuries. This just adds more pressure with Moore’s suspension, like throwing another wrench into a season that’s already teetering on the edge.
Now, we all know Michigan is going to see a major shift at its center this season after facing tremendous uncertainty last year. That’s exactly why Sherrone Moore brought playmakers like Bryce Underwood and Mikey Keene onto his team. But Keene has been sidelined throughout the spring game, leaving just Underwood and Warren Davis taking the reps. And that’s concerning. But it looks like the concern might be more smoke than fire, as Michigan Football Report with James Yoder as host gives out a favorable update on his injury status.
“So what we know now is that he was getting close to the end of spring practice, didn’t want to expose him to shoulder pads and helmets and all that good stuff. But is back to throwing here in just informal workouts. Potential to do some 7-on-7 and throwing with wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs at Schembechler Hall currently, and obviously going through the month of May, June into July, and fall camp at the end of July,” James Yoder said. That’s a smart move. Because if a player of Mikey’s caliber takes another hit before the season kicks off, that’s a kind of curveball Sherrone Moore and his crew simply can’t afford.
But why?
While many reports point at Underwood taking up the charge as Michigan’s ultimate QB1 this year, Mikey Keene has something that he doesn’t have: a ton of college experience. He has thrown for 8,254 yards in his career with 65 passing TDs and 28 interceptions. That’s exactly why he didn’t take reps at Michigan’s spring game. Even Moore stressed the same as Anthony Broome said on X, “Cited the amount of snaps he’s played in his career as why they knew they didn’t need to push it with him. He also said he expects the quarterback battle to go into fall camp.”
However, the concern doesn’t just stop there….
Their key safety player, Rod Moore, might be the one Sherrone Moore should stress about. Talking about his injury and status in Michigan’s week 1 game, James Yoder said, “So few days ago I think it was Tuesday shared an injury update showing him [Rod Moore] running on his Instagram account, and look at that big brace on his left leg. First time running in 14 months. Now, prior to spring practice and then even coming out of spring practice, I didn’t change my depth chart. I still have Rod Moore starting at strong safety and maybe based on how he comes back…..But I am starting to fear that Rod Moore is not going to be ready for the season. I am starting to fear that we might only get a few games out of him.”
Michigan’s defensive backfield enters the season like a familiar playbook with some unexpected twists. Captain Rod Moore, a three-year starter, suffered a devastating ACL tear last spring, sidelining him for all of 2024. While a late-season return was hoped for, setbacks delayed his recovery until this week, when he finally resumed running. But uncertainty still exists.
Meanwhile, Brandyn Hillman returns for his third year, slated to start opposite Moore. Adding to the mix are three four-star recruits: Jordan Young, already enrolled, and Kainoa Winston and Elijah Dotson, arriving this summer. So, for now, the defense looks promising. But with Sherrone Moore’s suspension threat hanging right around Michigan’s head, let’s hope things don’t go south for them this season.
Sherrone Moore’s suspension drama takes a weird turn
The cloud of a sign-stealing scandal still hangs over Ann Arbor, and Sherrone Moore now bears the brunt. The NCAA’s ongoing investigation into Michigan’s 2023 scandal under Jim Harbaugh has put current HC and then OC Sherrone Moore in the spotlight. The University of Michigan has self-imposed a punishment on Moore for not fully cooperating with the NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation. He’ll miss Michigan’s third and fourth games—first against Central Michigan at home on September 13th, then at Nebraska.
While the NCAA doesn’t prohibit in-game sign stealing, it strictly forbids scouting future opponents or using electronic surveillance. Yet, former staffer Connor Stalions purchased tickets and dispatched scouts to film opponents’ sideline signals—actions that sparked the controversy and continue to generate fallout.
Moore didn’t start the fire, but he’s feeling the heat. Investigators stated that Moore deleted 52 text messages exchanged with Stalions, but these texts have since been recovered and are part of the NCAA’s case. Moore claims he cooperated fully, but the evidence suggests otherwise.
However, as per Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, there are absolutely no conversations with the NCAA about the entire suspension drama. But Michigan’s insider, Sam Webb, has a different story. “What my sources tell me, this is in line with what Michigan may be thinking… Assuming that the NCAA were to say ‘Hey, we agree. This is a suitable punishment’…you will be fully out like Jim Harbaugh…that will suffice. But if the NCAA are to come back…and they say, ‘Nah, this doesn’t sound suitable. This is not sufficient. We are thinking something along the lines, something more severe.’”
Now, let’s just wait and see if Sherrone Moore really gets to start this season with his team or if Michigan’s stormy offseason is just getting started.
The post More Tension Mounts in Michigan Camp After Insider Updates Athlete’s Health Amidst Sherrone Moore Suspension Drama appeared first on EssentiallySports.