Michigan RB Donovan Edwards on Sherrone Moore: 'He's done a fantastic job'
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan Wolverines football held its first spring game without Jim Harbaugh on Saturday … except the former head coach, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, was in town. The Wolverines held a pregame ring ceremony to commemorate the 2023 season, receiving bling representing their national championship, Rose Bowl victory and Big Ten title.
Harbaugh also was inked with his ’15-0′ tattoo that he promised he’d receive if Michigan finished undefeated with a national championship.
“I saw it. I love it,” senior running back Donovan Edwards said of the tattoo. “He made a promise that when we win the national championship he would do it. He’s a man of his word.”
Edwards and Harbaugh had a uniquely tight relationship, but the program is moving on with Sherrone Moore, who previously served as offensive coordinator and line coach, as the head man. Edwards said the program has remained the same with Moore in charge.
“The guys respect Coach Moore,” the Michigan standout said. “The fact that he was the head coach for four games and three of them were the biggest games of the season and we came out successfully is just a testament to the preparation to be the head coach now.”
Junior quarterback Alex Orji said after the spring game that he had a recent conversation with junior cornerback Will Johnson in which the two agreed that it wouldn’t “feel right” with anyone else but Moore in charge.
Edwards noted that Moore commands the room.
“He’s done a fantastic job,” Edwards said. “When he speaks, we all stop talking. He has that type of vibrancy to him.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that he will be a successful head coach here. Beyond grateful for him. He recruited me coming out of high school. He started as the tight ends coach, O-line coach, [won the] Joe Moore Award — so he’s been successful at everything he’s done. He led us to a national championship as an offensive coordinator.”
Donovan Edwards: ‘We’re in a really good spot’
Michigan’s spring game featured a lot of reasons for optimism, but question marks in several areas still remain as the Wolverines replace nearly two dozen NFL Draft prospects who could hear their names called next week in Detroit. Speaking 133 days before the season-opener against Fresno State, Edwards made sure to note that it’s early.
“We’re in a really good spot,” Edwards said. “We’re just going to continue to do better. I’m glad that it’s almost the end of April, so that means we have a lot more time to fine tune our details — and that’s what we pride ourselves on.”
The offense, in particular, has been behind the defense, which isn’t surprising given that Michigan returns just one starter on that side of the ball in junior tight end Colston Loveland.
We’ve done well at a lot of things — running the ball, making plays when plays need to be made,” Edwards said of the Michigan offense. “And, of course, there are always things that we need to work on, too. We definitely will get better at the small details and the things that have made us great.
“It’s a new group of people that are going to be in big roles this year, and they’re going to embrace it and they’re going to love it. Each and every one of us are all going to push each other to have each and every person successful, because the ultimate goal is for everybody to get drafted, everybody to fulfill their dreams. Whatever you want to do, on or off the field, you will be successful.
“So as long as our camaraderie is there, is together, we’re going to continue to do great things.”
