College Football Analyst Predicts Big Ten's Most 'Explosive' Offense
COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 26: Donovan Edwards #7 of the Michigan Wolverines evades a tackle during the second quarter of a game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
We're a little over two months away from the start of the 2023 college football season and the predictions for what the new season will bring are starting to trickle in a little faster.
In a new feature for 247Sports, college football analyst Brad Crawford broke down his predictions for the top five most explosive offenses in the Big Ten this season. Surprisingly, he had Michigan and not Ohio State as his No. 1.
Crawford explained that Sheronne Moore taking over as the team's sole offensive play-caller combined with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards returning will make them one of the nation's top scoring teams.
"Moore is not new to Michigan's offensive staff, however, he will be the Wolverines' sole play-caller this season after sharing duties in 2022. He won't reinvent the wheel by any means —Michigan knows where its bread is buttered. Moore provided major assistance to Michigan's offensive line, which routinely bullied its way against elite competition en route to another playoff berth. Blake Corum was a Heisman frontrunner last fall before an injury kept him limited in Michigan's big win over Ohio State. He registered eight straight 100-yard games at one point and scored a touchdown in every contest except for the finale," Crawford wrote.
"Donovan Edwards returns too after nearly eclipsing 1,000 yards. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry as RB2. Over his final three games against Ohio State, Purdue (Big Ten Championship) and TCU (College Football Playoff), Edwards notched 520 yards, including a 216-yard outburst against the Buckeyes. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is back as "the guy" after running away from Cade McNamara (who's now at Iowa) to assume the starting job last September. If he takes the next step developmentally, Michigan's unit could produce at an even higher clip than it managed in 2022 with the nation's sixth-best scoring offense (40.4 points per game)."
Michigan are renown for their rushing attack and defense but their offense has quietly been rock solid for two straight years and it's helped them reach the College Football Playoff both times.
Will 2023 be the best season for a Michigan offense under head coach Jim Harbaugh?
