Michigan is 2-0, but the Wolverines haven’t exactly shown off the offense people expected to see when the season opened.
The run game that was supposed to carry the load has been stuck in neutral. Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter have both had a hard time finding any space, and the passing game has not been the reliable counterbalance either. Quarterback play was shaky in the opener against Western Michigan, then improved against a strong Oklahoma defense, but Michigan still has not consistently created the kind of explosive plays that change games.
That matters because the scoring has been thin. Through two games, the Wolverines are putting up 15 points per game, and two of their touchdowns have come in unusual fashion: one on a hail mary and another after a turnover gave them a short field deep in Oklahoma territory.
Kyle Whittingham addressed the passing game with the media on Monday, and one of the biggest concerns is hard to ignore. Through two games, Michigan has had only three players catch a pass who are not running backs.
That’s a problem for an offense that spent the offseason drawing attention to Jaime Ffrench, Saleh Moa, and Travis Johnson. So far, those names have not shown up in the way Michigan had hoped.
The result is an offense that feels easy to defend. If a defense doesn’t have to account for many receiving threats, the field shrinks fast.
Michigan has leaned heavily on the rhino package and on Jalen Hoffman as a tight end, while Eli Owens has also been getting plenty of snaps. Those players may be helping as blockers, but the passing-game production from that group has been minimal.
In theory, a team can live with limited receiving production if the run game is overwhelming. Michigan’s hasn’t been, and that’s why the personnel usage is starting to come into focus.
One possible answer was hinted at against Oklahoma. Whittingham said Hoffman has earned most of the reps right now, but the staff is also hoping for a lift from freshman Mason Bonner.
Bonner was a name the coaches kept bringing up during fall camp. Michigan has had stability at tight end before, with Jake Butt and later Colston Loveland.
Even Marlin Klein looked positioned for a big senior year before injuries derailed it. That kind of dependable presence isn’t there right now.
Zak Marshall, Deakon Tonielli, and Hoffman all played a role a season ago, but none has established himself as a consistent difference-maker. Hoffman has one catch this season; the rest of the tight ends have none.
That leaves Michigan with a tight end rotation that can help in the run game, but doesn’t force defenses to stay honest through the air. If the offense is going to get unstuck, that may need to change.
Bonner offers something different. His 6-foot-7 frame was on display Saturday when Bryce Underwood tried to hit him on a contested go-ball against Oklahoma. The play did not result in a catch because Bonner’s feet were out of bounds, but the size and mismatch potential were obvious.
From my viewpoint, Michigan needs to get more speed on the field. Bonner is the fastest tight end on the roster, and he has the most upside. Hoffman may offer more as a blocker, but his ceiling is limited.
Michigan doesn’t need to apologize for being 2-0. But with Big Ten play coming, the Wolverines can’t afford to stay this one-dimensional against the top teams on the schedule.
They have one more tuneup against UTEP before next week’s meeting with Iowa, and this feels like the time to give the freshman a bigger role in the passing game.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Made An Early Move That Should Excite Basketball Fans
While the football team was entertaining Oklahoma, Michigan basketball used the same weekend to work its own recruiting circuit, bringing in several top prospects for campus visits. Among the headliners were 2028 five-star forwards Dylan Betts and Brady Pettigrew, a sign that the staff is already thinking far ahead as it tries to build relationships with the next wave of elite talent.
The visits also included time with head coach Mike Boynton and former players, giving the recruits a fuller look at what Michigan can offer beyond the practice gym. Pettigrew has sparked some buzz because of the possibility that he could move up a class, but that remains unconfirmed for now, leaving the bigger question open: how much traction did Michigan gain with two of the most coveted names on its early board? [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Gained Real Recruiting Momentum After Beating Oklahoma
Michigans win over Oklahoma did more than improve the mood around the program. It also gave the staff a chance to put several high-profile visitors in the middle of the atmosphere, with five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and four-star prospects Nasir Richardson, Mekhi McNair, Asa Burch and Armani Strong among the recruits on hand. The setting mattered, and the reactions afterward suggested the day landed the way Michigan hoped it would.
The buzz extended beyond the field, too, with recruits and their families speaking positively about both the game-day environment and the broader feel around the program. Guerrant, who is currently committed to Oregon, is among the visitors now taking a harder look after the trip, which is the kind of momentum Michigan has been trying to build on the trail. The game provided a backdrop, but the real question is how far that visit can move things in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Shouldn't Overlook The UTEP Threats That Could Test This Opener
Michigan opens the season as a heavy favorite, but the spread alone will not make UTEP disappear. The Miners bring a few players who give this matchup some real shape, starting with quarterback EJ Colson Jr., who gives their offense a dual-threat element, and Kam Thomas, a versatile piece who can move around and create problems in different spots. Add running back Tavorus Jones to the mix and UTEP at least has enough skill talent to make the Wolverines stay alert early.
Defensively, the Miners also have a few names that could make the first game of the year feel less like a tune-up than Michigan would prefer. Linebacker Jayden Wilson has been one of the more active pieces on that side, while cornerback Justin Content brings the kind of coverage ability that can challenge timing throws. Michigan should still expect to control the game, but if UTEP is going to make it interesting at all, it will probably come through a handful of those individual matchups rather than a broad team upset push. [Read more 🡒]