When a team wins a national championship, whether or not the program was changed in the offseason, the reigning champions almost always tend to get the most attention. But that doesn't seem to be the case with Michigan State football.
That has a lot to do with not just the Wolverines' situation, but what's been happening around college football. The University of Michigan lost head coach Jim Harbaugh and the entire defensive coaching staff. Several key players left for the NFL, including JJ McCarthy and Blake Collum. There are a lot of questions about Sherone Moore's version of Maze and Blue, and we won't get answers until the season is in full swing.
CBS Sports' Tom Fornelli asks the biggest question for each of the Big Ten's 18 teams, and for the Wolverines, the question is: Will the wins continue, or will it be time to rebuild a declining team?
Is this a reload or rebuild situation? That's not a question often asked of the defending champions, but it's a perfect fit for the Wolverines. Jim Harbaugh is gone and he brought a good portion of last year's coaching staff with him. Moore took over and gained valuable game-day coaching experience due to Harbaugh's suspension last season. The Wolverines lost their offensive line, their top receiver and their leading rusher. The defender returns some important pieces, but loses a lot. Oh, and they have to replace the quarterback Jim Harbaugh calls the greatest in program history (JJ McCarthy).
For example, the QB situation is serious because there's really no obvious answer. Jack Tuttle is a veteran, but the sixth-year player doesn't have much playing experience. Alex Orji saw playing time last year, but he only threw one pass in anger in two seasons. The other options are Jaden Denegal and Jadyn Davis. Davis, a freshman, is unlikely to win the job, but it's not impossible.
Also, if Moore isn't too excited about the current roster, he could look into the transfer portal after spring practice to explore options. There are too many questions surrounding Michigan this spring to expect answers to be found by the end of camp.
The biggest question mark on this team is arguably quarterback, with wide receivers a close second. With JJ McCarthy at quarterback, it's no wonder Michigan is on the rise for the first time since Chad Henne. He was the first QB since Hen to combine the intangibles and tangible talents of pro style. However, there is still a lot of talent on this team.
The offensive line, tight ends, and running backs need to be good offensively. The entire defense is going all out from front to back and has an NFL mentality with Wink Martindale overseeing the offense on that side of the ball. There's a lot to like about this team, but this team will probably only go as far as its quarterback can lead.
The story originally appeared on Wolverines Wire
