Michigan Top Player Will Not Be Able To Play 2024 Season Due To Knee Injury…
The Michigan Wolverines and Jim Harbaugh displayed one of the greatest turnarounds for a college football program after a disastrous 2020 season. They rattled off three straight Big Ten conference titles, three straight wins against their biggest rivals the Ohio State Buckeyes, and a national championship victory since the start of the 2021 season. Many will remember how the Wolverines sealed the deal against Ohio State in 2023 with a Rod Moore interception that iced the game. Moore was one of the few draft-eligible players from 2023 who decided to return to the program.
Unfortunately, he’s not expected to see the field in 2024 after reportedly suffering a knee injury in only the team’s sixth spring practice. Moore, who missed the beginning of the 2023 campaign with an unrelated injury, leaves a big hole in the Michigan secondary, especially due to the departure of current Alabama Crimson Tide safety Keon Sabb.
“Some unfortunate injury news: Michigan standout safety Rod Moore suffered a torn ACL during the Wolverines’ practice yesterday, sources tell @247Sports. Moore, a starter for Michigan each of the last three years, was an All-Big Ten selection last season,” 247 Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on X.
Michigan still has a ton of experience on its back end with senior Makari Page remaining on the roster and Quinten Johnson returning to the program after originally declaring for the NFL Draft. Unfortunately, it will be hard to replace Moore’s impact as one of the top safeties in college football. He’s displayed great athleticism paired with excellent decision-making at one of the most conflicted positions in the sport.
His absence will make room for younger players in the secondary to get more playing time including Zeke Berry, Brandyn Hillman, Jacob Oden, and former receiver Cristian Dixon. Michigan’s Spring Game will be nationally televised on Fox at Noon on April 20.
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Rod Moore’s injury heightens Michigan football’s need to add an impact DB in the transfer portal
Not too long ago, the Wolverines looked like they’d have one of the nation’s best secondaries. Now, due to a transfer and an injury, the Wolverines’ defensive back room is much more of a question mark.
It’s been a trying offseason for first-year Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. It got worse this week when returning All-Big Ten safety Rod Moore tore his ACL during spring practice, as 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported.
Losing Moore in a vacuum is a blow. But his injury, which could cost him the entire 2024 season, is even worse in the context of Michigan’s roster situation.
Secondary seemed like it’d be a 2024 strength for Michigan coming off a national championship. Yes, the defense’s Swiss Army Knife, Mike Sainristil, would depart for the NFL. But the core of a group that ranked third nationally in opposing passer rating projected to return with junior cornerback Will Johnson alongside Moore, Makari Paige and Keon Sabb at safety. That foursome gave new Michigan defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan something to build around.
Just a few months after the national title game, 50% of that group won’t be around for the season opener due to Moore’s injury and Sabb’s transfer to Alabama.
Thus, while Johnson and Paige are cornerstone pieces. The Wolverines are likely going to have to turn toward outside reinforcements to bolster the secondary.
Not that they weren’t planning to do so before
Michigan secured a silent commitment from Western Kentucky transfer Upton Stout during the winter transfer portal window, per a source.
The Michigan staff viewed Stout, a four-star transfer, as an ideal nickel replacement for Sainristil.
But that commitment didn’t stick. The Hilltoppers reeled Stout back in with a strong NIL offer.
Given everything that swirled around Jim Harbaugh‘s status with the program during the winter portal window, the Wolverines couldn’t add any additional pieces to the secondary before the market dried up.
Back then, Stout seemed like a luxury for a group that already projected strength. Now, finding someone like him in the spring transfer portal window feels like a necessity.
There are some internal options for Michigan to consider.
Sophomores DJ Waller and Jyaire Hill showed promise as true freshman last season. They’ll battle for the cornerback spot opposite Johnson that Mike Wallace occupied last year. Senior Ja’Den McBurrows, one of the better downhill tacklers on Michigan’s roster, figures to get the first shot at Sainristil’s job.
Safety is also not without internal options. Sophomore Brandyn Hillman forced his way onto the field last year as a true freshman playing in nine games. He showed great promise.
But that’s still a lot of hopeful projections instead of proven production for a unit that, just a few months ago, was expected to be among the nation’s best in 2024.
Two months ago, the Wolverines had the best safety trio in the Big Ten — so much depth, in fact, that Sabb hopped in the portal for a chance at a full-time starting role at Alabama. Now, after Moore’s injury, the Wolverines need a safety talent infusion.