Michigan’s QB, RB Depth Chart, Recruit Commitments After McCarthy, Corum Enter Draft

The exodus from Ann Arbor continued Sunday as Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum declared for the 2024 NFL draft.

Their announcements come after offensive guard Zak Zinter, a unanimous first-team All-American, signaled his departure.

A high level of turnover was expected after the Wolverines won their first national championship since 1997. It offered the perfect opportunity for their top stars to leave on top.

The general uncertainty over head coach Jim Harbaugh adds to the sense the team that takes the field in Week 1 of the 2024 season could be dramatically different from the one that ended 2023.

Here’s how the quarterback room is shaping up with McCarthy and graduate transfer Jack Tuttle gone:

At running back, a lot will hinge on Donovan Edwards because his return would help to soften the blow of losing Corum:

Some reinforcements will be arriving through the 2024 high school class.

Michigan signed 4-star quarterback Jadyn Davis, who’s the No. 7 recruit at the position in 247Sports’ composite rankings. Jordan Marshall, a 4-star recruit who’s the sixth-best running back prospect, and Micah Kaapana will join the backfield.

It’s easy enough to say Michigan has to hit the portal to find a QB to either replace McCarthy outright or at least provide some competition. The Wolverines are way behind the game, though.

Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore, Cam Ward, Malachi Nelson, Riley Leonard, Will Howard and Aidan Chiles are among the notable signal-callers who have already found new homes in the portal.

Former Mississippi State QB Will Rogers could potentially be in play. He reportedly chose to re-examine his commitment to Washington after head coach Kalen DeBoer left to succeed Nick Saban at Alabama. Jayden de Laura is looking to transfer for the second time in his college career as well, having previously swapped Washington State for Arizona.

Edwards might be the one domino that determines the program’s priorities.

The junior had a somewhat down year, running for 497 yards and five touchdowns while seeing his yards per carry fall from 7.1 in 2022 to 4.2. Michigan’s victory over Washington could provide a taste of what he’d do with more touches as the No. 1 option on the ground.

If Edwards stays, the Wolverines may feel confident enough in the offense to warrant the pursuit of a short-term stopgap at quarterback such as Rogers or De Laura. Were he to follow McCarthy and Corum out the door, there isn’t a QB in the country who can balance out the talent drain.

Even in the transfer portal era, it’s impossible for a coaching staff in the space of one offseason to adequately address the loss of its leading passer, two best running backs, top two wide receivers, and an elite interior lineman.

The 2019 LSU squad is one of the best in recent memory. The following season, the Tigers slumped to a 5-5 finish.

Regardless of whether Harbaugh is the coach, a similar downturn could be ahead for Michigan.