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Everything Michigan loses from 2023 to '24
In terms of experience, talent and corporate knowledge, no defending champion has lost more from its staff room and its roster than Michigan.- ZACH BARNETT
- FEB 7, 2024
Sometimes the team that hoists the trophy at the end of the season finds themselves on the confetti-clad podium through a series of fortunate breaks and unrepeatable performances; if you'd played that season over 10 times, a different champion would've been crowned in nine of them.
The 2023 college football season was not one of those.
Michigan was the only undefeated team in the land. They beat an undefeated Ohio State; ended SEC champion Alabama's 11-game winning streak; and snapped Washington's 21-game winning streak in the title game. Two foes played the Wolverines to within one score all season, and they trailed in the second half once.
Michigan ended the year No. 1 in the polls, which is obvious as the national champion. But various algorithms that see beyond the final score also anointed them as the No. 1 team in the country: SP+, F+, and Sagarin. They were No. 1 in net yards per play, No. 1 in total defense, No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 1 in turnover margin, and even No. 1 in penalties.
Michigan is also singular in another way: no defending champion has ever lost more than these Wolverines will lose between 2023 and '24.
Let's start here: Michigan is the first defending champion to lose its head coach to the NFL. Post World War II and pre-Harbaugh, only Johnny Majors (Pitt to Tennessee, 1976) and Howard Schnellenberger (Miami to the USFL, 1983) bailed on opportunities to defend their titles.
Jim Harbaugh's long-expected return to the NFL has seen six assistants depart as well, all of them for the NFL. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore ascended to head coach, but the heads of the defense, special teams and strength are all gone. And keep in mind, this is just the list so far; run game coordinator/running backs coach Mike Hart, an alum, and co-defensive coordinator Steve Clinkscale could also take jobs elsewhere.
Coaching Staff
-- Jim Harbaugh, head coach: 188 career wins (86 at Michigan), enthusiasm unknown to mankind
-- Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator: two seasons at DC, both ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense and yards per play
-- Jay Harbaugh, special teams coordinator: nine seasons coaching special teams, also immeasurable amount of corporate knowledge coaching TEs, RBs and safeties
-- Mike Elston, defensive line: two seasons, 10 All-Big Ten defensive linemen, one B1G Defensive Lineman of the Year
-- Ben Herbert, strength: six seasons, generally regarded as one of the best, and most important, strength coaches in the country
-- Doug Mallory, defensive analyst: helped Michigan place five DBs on 2023 All-B1G team
-- Dylan Roney, graduate assistant: coached Edges, helped Michigan garner four All-B1G honors in 2023
And that's just the coaching staff.
Harbaugh estimated last spring Michigan could break the NFL record for most selections in a single draft. That remains to be seen, but he signaled that Michigan was loaded with veterans in '23, and that bill came due after the season.
Michigan is set to lose its leading passer, its leading rusher, its leading receiver, all five starting offensive linemen, its top two tacklers, its leader in sacks and tackles for loss, and its leader in interceptions.
The offense was hit particularly hard, returning only tight end Colston Loveland.
Offense
-- JJ McCarthy, quarterback: 28 career starts, 40 appearances; 713 pass attempts; Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist; 27-1 record is best QB win pct of CFP era
-- Blake Corum, running back: Michigan record-holder for career rushing touchdowns (58), total touchdowns (61) and points (356); a 4-year letterwinner
-- Cornelius Johnson, wide receiver: 5-year letterwinner; 61 career appearances; 138 career receptions
-- Roman Wilson, wide receiver: 4-year letterwinner; 45 career appearances; All-Big Ten honoree in 2023
-- AJ Barner, tight end: started nine games after transferring from Indiana; fifth-leading receiver in 2023
-- LaDarius Henderson, left tackle: 39 total career starts (played first three seasons at Arizona State); First Team All-B1G honor by league's coaches
-- Trevor Keegan, left guard: 37 career starts; three time All-B1G honoree
-- Drake Nugent, center: 39 career starts (played first four seasons at Stanford); First Team All-B1G honoree; Rimington Trophy finalist
-- Zak Zinter, right guard: 42 career starts at right guard, on a line of seniors, he was the veteran; unanimous All-American in 2023; three-time All-B1G
-- Karsen Barnhart, right tackle: 43 career appearances with 31 starts; 5-year letterman and a 2-time All-B1G selection
The defense faired better in comparison, returning six starting-quality players, including stud linemen Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, and corner Will Johnson. However, leadership will need to be replaced after losing the equivalent of McCarthy and Corum on the opposing side of the ball in mike linebacker Junior Colson and nickel back Mike Sainristil.
Defense
-- Junior Colson, middle linebacker: 196 tackles over the past two seasons, most on the team; 43 appearances with 36 starts over three seasons; 2-time All-B1G selection
-- Michael Barrett, sam linebacker: 137 tackles over the past two seasons, second most on the team; a 6-year letterman with 64 career appearances and 35 starts; 2-time All-B1G honoree
-- Josh Wallace, cornerback: 45 career starts, 5-year letterman (four years at UMass); Honorable Mention All-B1G pick in 2023
-- Mike Sainristil, nickel back: 62 career appearances across five seasons at WR and DB and punt returner; program record holder for career INT return yards; 2-time All-B1G and 2-time team captain; 2023 First Team All-American
-- Kris Jenkins, defensive tackle: 44 career appearances with 32 starts; two-time All-B1G
-- Braiden McGregor, edge: 38 career appearances with 18 starts; All-B1G honorable mention in 2023
-- Jaylen Harrell, edge: 46 career appearances with 31 starts; two-time All-B1G
In all, Michigan is set to lose 807 career appearances and 559 starts -- from its starting offense alone.
And just as Michigan can still lose coaches, its roster is not yet immune from further defections. The 30-day portal window does not close until approximately Feb. 23, and of course the portal re-opens for all players on April 15.
Michigan can -- and will -- add through the portal as well, but there's no replacing the level of culture and institutional know-how, in the staff room and the locker room, that will collect NFL checks this fall.
