Spring football is underway for the Michigan Wolverines as the program breaks in new quarterbacks, a new offensive coordinator, new receivers and more as they prepare for the 2025 season.
Sherrone Moore, now entering his second year as the head man, spoke with media to provide a Michigan spring football update. Here are the biggest things to know:
Rod Moore is not practicing yet, but Sherrone Moore is optimistic for the fall
The Michigan safety is still recovering from a knee injury suffered at the beginning of last year’s spring practice. Sherrone Moore confirmed Rod Moore is not practicing yet, but “he’s recovering well and I look forward to him” returning.
Sherrone Moore was noncommittal — “we’ll see” — to a question about whether Rod Moore will practice this spring but said he’s optimistic the safety will return for the fall.
Earlier this March, Wink Martindale said the following about Rod Moore:
“It’s going to be wait and see with him on how fast he can come back. I don’t think he’s run in 14 months. As a player, that’s a long time to be off. So it’s going to be interesting to see,” Martindale said. “… He’s a great guy and we’re looking for him to come back. He’s got to come back on his terms when he’s ready to go.”
Spring practice is about mental game for Bryce Underwood, other freshmen
Last week, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey praised freshman QB Bryce Underwood’s physical attributes but noted the learning curve of transitioning to the college game.
As the Wolverines dive into spring practice, coaches are balancing QB reps evenly between all the available quarterbacks, including Bryce Underwood.
“Early enrollees in general, it’s a great thing for the game and for those players to be able to come in — not only just for football, for school, be able to handle school, be able to maneuver in school, know where your classes are,” Sherrone Moore said. “For him and all the quarterbacks, it’s been good, adjusting to things and doing things a little bit different, but he’s done well, he works his tail off, he’s in here late, in here early.”
Experience is the biggest edge for Mikey Keene
Sherrone Moore detailed why Michigan liked QB Mikey Keene and pursued him out of the Transfer Portal:
“The first thing we saw is when we played against him. I remember watching him in the summer. I was like, ‘Damn, he’s pretty good. I’ve got to deal with this dude game one?’ He’s making all these throws, he’s experienced,” Moore recounted, referencing the 2024 season opener against Keene at Fresno State.
The biggest edge for Keene is experience. He’s an intelligent player who wants to be a coach, Moore noted, and has played a lot of football at this level.
“He’s played the most snaps of college football on the team, over 2,000 snaps. So a guy that’s played a lot of football, understands the moments, understands the big moments, understands what it takes to be really good,” he said.
The wide receiver room is bigger by design
The Wolverines got scant production out of their receiver room in 2024, but there are several new faces who could contribute this fall.
“That group has really, obviously, grown in size. That was an emphasis for me. I wanted a lot of big receivers, and with [Jamar Browder], and Donaven McCulley, and bringing in Jacob Washington, even Andrew Marsh — he’s not a small guy, he’s a long, long guy,” Sherrone Moore said.
“I felt that we’d bring in a really good size in that group to help us be more explosive in the passing game, and that’s what I wanted. And those guys have made plays, and it’s been fun to watch, and it’s been great for our defense, and great for the DBs to go with guys that are bigger. Because as we know, in the games that matter, you’re gonna have to play really big dudes that can go get the football up in the air. It’s been awesome. It’s been very encouraging to watch them all.”
Yes, Shamari Earls has flashed
Sherrone Moore agreed with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s comments last week that freshman cornerback Shamari Earls has impressed.
“You can definitely see it, especially being that size and that long. For a true freshman, he’s definitely flashed and made the plays you wouldn’t think he would,” Sherrone Moore said.
However, with him and all newcomers, the coach tempered his comments by noting it’s early in spring ball, so he wants to reserve further public evaluation until later on.
Why didn’t Michigan cancel the Spring Game?
Many programs have canceled or modified their spring games, ostensibly in an effort to mitigate Transfer Portal departures. Michigan will hold its traditional event on April 19 at the Big House.
Sherrone Moore explained why the Wolverines didn’t jump on the trend:
“We’re playing it just because, one, it’s a great opportunity for our players and our fans to be out there and see the team in general,” he said. “We’re not going to run every single play and do every single thing, but it’s a great opportunity, especially for guys that might not get the chance to play in the Big House on Saturdays as much as others.
“So it’s a great opportunity for us. And everybody talks about the portal and all that. We all know that. Regardless, you have to have a great relationship with your players, regardless. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Your Dominic Zvada update
By some metrics, Dominic Zvada was the nation’s best kicker last year. He returned to Michigan for another year and still looks excellent.
“He hit a 60-yarder and walked off like nothing happened,” Moore said, adding Zvada added 10 pounds of muscle.
“He came in the other day with like a reversed Phoenix Suns Kevin Durant jersey. I was like, ‘Dude, you’re the only kicker in the country that can wear that with that much swag.’ It was beautiful. He’s been great.”
