After watching Sherone Moore's inaugural press conference a few months ago, one quote has stuck with me, summarizing Moore's field and recruiting priorities in a witty tagline:
“We will continue to attack every day with a passion unknown to mankind,” said Moore, who has been appointed as the next head coach at Michigan. “And I promise you – we will crush it.”
We saw Moore prioritize offensive line play, the run game, smash-mouth football, call plays and serve as the head coach for some of the most important moments of the University of Michigan's 2023 season.
Moore has yet to secure a commitment at the offensive line or running back positions since his promotion, but looking at Moore's recruiting in his first few months, it appears dominance in the trenches remains a top priority.
Northwestern offensive lineman Josh Priebe joined the team through the transfer portal before Michigan won the national championship. When discussing his decision to transfer, Priebe told Maze & Brew that he wants to use all available resources to join the best program in the country.
Michigan's success in the trenches over the past few seasons was probably a big factor in Priebe's commitment, and he's not the only lineman to realize that. Recruits see what Michigan has built in the trenches and want to be a part of it.
Over the past month, nearly every acquisition news story has involved the University of Michigan pursuing a top offensive lineman. Michigan just had 2025 five-star offensive lineman Andrew Bavarois visit over the weekend, but he's not the only player Michigan has been rumored to be involved with recently. That list includes:
These are just a few of the offensive line players Michigan State has committed to, and the Wolverines appear to have many of their top players in the mix with commitment.
The University of Michigan's running backs have improved over the past few seasons behind a dominant offensive line. Michigan has also prioritized the running back position, especially since hiring former Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford.
As Dan Plotcher noted in a recent article, Alford's hire may be the most impactful hire of Moore's tenure as head coach. Jordan Marshall, the top 2024 signee and rated as the best running back to come out of Ohio, recently said he was excited to play for him.
Alford's hiring also brings other running backs he has recruited to the forefront, including four-star running back Bo Jackson from Ohio State. Those who visited last weekend, Marquis Davis. The two had ties to Ohio State when Alford was there, and both visited Ohio State last week.
We've also seen Michigan pursue other running backs since Moore took over. Wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy offered the three-star running back from Jasper Parker's alma mater. Four-star running back Iverson Howard also plans to make two visits, including next month's spring game.
Moore has already established his identity at the University of Michigan. Under his guidance, offensive linemen developed into NFL players, and football management became the team's greatest strength. It's clear that Michigan is prioritizing offensive linemen and running backs in its recruiting route, so it would be great to see that identity play out.
The past three seasons for Michigan State football have been some of the best in program history, culminating in a national championship. The Wolverines wouldn't have had as much success without their dominance in the trenches. So it's great to see the Wolverines play to their strengths in recruiting.
