The Michigan Wolverines returned from Washington with a list of improvements to address after a 27-17 defeat against the Washington Huskies.
Quarterback Alex Orji started the game but was replaced by Jack Tuttle after a few drives. Following two turnovers from Tuttle, there is increasing demand from fans for true freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis to get an opportunity to play. Fans have only seen Davis during the spring game, and given the current schedule, it is challenging to foresee chances for his participation.
The Wolverines’ defense is currently facing injury issues, particularly at the edge position. Derrick Moore did not participate in the game due to injury, allowing true freshman Dominic Nichols to receive some playing time.
Several true freshmen have already seen action this season, with an asterisk (*) indicating they participated against Washington.
RB Jordan Marshall (1 game)
OL Andrew Sprague (1 game)
OL Jake Guarnera (2 games)*
TE Hogan Hansen (4 games)*
LB Cole Sullivan (5 games)
EDGE Dominic Nichols (3 games)*
DL Manuel Beigel (1 game)
DB Mason Curtis (2 games)*
DB Jo’Ziah Edmond (2 games)*
Nichols did not have extensive playing time, appearing on the field for six defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He earned a grade of 66.7 overall, with a tackling score of 73.0, which is encouraging for a player at the start of his career.
Other freshmen on special teams—Hogan Hansen, Jake Guarnera, Mason Curtis, and Jo’Ziah Edmond—also received playing time. Hansen played in his fourth game this season, and if he continues to participate, he will lose his redshirt by the time Michigan faces Illinois in two weeks.
Notably, linebacker Cole Sullivan was absent from the game against the Huskies after the Wolverines used his redshirt last week against Minnesota. He had participated in special teams in every game this season prior to this match, which will be worth monitoring as the season progresses.
Running back Jordan Marshall remained sidelined due to injury. Michigan anticipated his contributions on kick returns this season, but he has not played since the matchup against Texas. While Michigan has depth at running back, having a dynamic player on special teams would have been beneficial for field position.
The Wolverines will take a bye week before traveling to face Illinois on Saturday, October 19. The Illini have shown improvement this season, presenting another significant challenge for the Wolverines. The bye week should aid in recovering from injuries, possibly resulting in fewer freshmen getting playing time in the latter half of the season.