The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1518781
30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MAY 2024 BY CHRIS BALAS M ichigan football was looking at a rebuild this year, having to re- place a dozen and a half or so NFL con- tributors. The task will be harder now after senior safety Rod Moore report- edly suffered a major non-contact knee injury that will likely keep him out for the 2024 season. Moore started making an impact as a true freshman and broke out in his sophomore season in 2022. He led all Michigan defensive backs in intercep- tions (4) to earn honorable mention All- Big Ten honors. Moore missed the first four games of last season before returning from injury in Game 5 against Rutgers. He was back in form by the end of the year and made the game-clinching pick in a 30-24 win over Ohio State that gave the Wolver- ines the Big Ten East title. New Michigan defensive coordina- tor Wink Martindale was counting on Moore for big things on the back end this year. "Rod Moore ... I'm not talking about play-wise or anything else, but smart- wise and football knowledge-wise, he reminds me of Eric Weddle," he said of his former player with the Baltimore Ravens. "And he was one of the smartest safeties I've ever coached. I called Wed- dle and told him about [Rod]. That's ex- citing to me." Now, they'll likely have to do it with- out him. Michigan has veteran Makari Paige returning, and he'll likely take on a big- ger role in Moore's absence, along with sixth-year Quinten Johnson. The Wol- verines lost junior-to-be safety Keon Sabb to Alabama before spring practice started, so they'll have to turn to the portal or to their more inexperienced players to fill the void. Last season, Moore led all U-M safe- ties with 500 snaps played, with Paige behind him at 479, per Pro Football Fo- cus. Sabb played 360 snaps on the year with Johnson playing 323. Moore had 297 snaps in pass coverage, followed by Paige (261), Sabb (227) and Johnson (187). Now, Michigan has around 860 snaps available with Moore's injury and Sabb's departure. Junior Zeke Berry (5-foot-11, 192), a former four-star recruit (No. 146 overall, 2022 On3 Industry Ranking), will likely get more time, though John- son is the obvious choice with Paige to get many more reps. Berry — an ath- letic, quick-reacting safety who flies to the football and was a track star in high school — could also compete in the nickel role vacated by Mike Sainristil. Another player to keep an eye on is sophomore Brandyn Hillman (6-0, 200), who played in nine games last sea- son as a true freshman. Hillman was a four-star recruit and the No. 207 player in the 2023 class and is one of the best pure athletes on the Michigan roster. Regardless, Moore's loss is a huge blow to the 2024 Wolverines. LOU ESPOSITO HIRED AS NEW DEFENSIVE LINE COACH Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore filled out his staff with defensive line coach Lou Esposito, hiring him from Memphis on March 29 to replace Greg Scruggs. The hiring came a little less than two weeks after Scruggs' OWI ar- rest led to his resignation days later. Memphis hired Esposito from West- ern Michigan as the team's defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator in early January. "I am excited to welcome Lou to our Michigan Football family and look for- ward to having his leadership and expe- rience directing our defensive linemen," Moore said in a statement. "Lou is a great defensive mind that has developed outstanding players and produced top units at the line of scrimmage through- out his coaching career. He will be a great asset and mentor for the young men in our program." Michigan is projected to have one of the best defensive lines in the coun- ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Rod Moore Reportedly Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury 2024 MICHIGAN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent April 20 Spring Game (12 p.m., FOX) Aug. 31 FRESNO STATE Sept. 7 TEXAS Sept. 14 ARKANSAS STATE Sept. 21 USC Sept. 28 MINNESOTA Oct. 5 at Washington Oct. 19 at Illinois Oct. 26 MICHIGAN STATE Nov. 2 OREGON Nov. 9 at Indiana Nov. 23 NORTHWESTERN Nov. 30 at Ohio State Dec. 7 Big Ten Championship Game Moore made the game-clinching pick in a 30-24 win over Ohio State that gave the Wolverines the Big Ten East title last season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL