The pressure is great.

The excitement is in the air as the 2024 season begins with the Michigan Wolverines looking to defend their national championship title.

Much of the attention has been focused on the Michigan players who left the team after the 2023 season, but there are many players looking to make a name for themselves in the 2024 season in hopes of being drafted into the NFL and becoming “Michigan Legends” for years to come.

The Wolverines have lost key players at very important positions, but the next men in line will look to get off to a fast start to keep Michigan’s championship dreams alive in head coach Sherrone Moore’s first season.

3. Jyaire Hill

Will Johnson is generally considered the Wolverines’ best cornerback, but the other defensive backs will have a lot of responsibility to keep the receivers under control at the start of the season.

Michigan was fortunate to get production from Mike Sainristil, Josh Wallace and DJ Waller Jr. last season, so there are big shoes to fill in 2024. There is ongoing competition between Jyaire Hill, Keshaun Harris, Myles Pollard and Aamir Hall, but Hill appears to have the edge in this battle.

The former four-star prospect from Illinois had nine interceptions and six forced fumbles in his penultimate year of high school, and added three more interceptions, three forced fumbles and 42 tackles in his final season, where he played primarily on defense, but he didn’t play much in his first season under Jim Harbaugh. In 2023, Hill appeared in four games, retaining his redshirt status. In those few snaps, he totaled eight tackles, 1.5 of which resulted in a loss of yardage.

With Wallace heading to the NFL Draft and Waller transferring to Kentucky, the second cornerback spot is open, and Hill has made a compelling case in camp. Hill gained 10 pounds in the offseason, making him appear more college-ready for a bigger role in 2024. While Fresno State shouldn’t pose too much of a challenge, Hill will be thrown in at the deep end in Week 2 against Texas and will most likely face Houston transfer Matthew Golden, who had 76 receptions for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns in two seasons with the Cougars.

2. Dominic Zvada

One position that will receive a lot of attention early in the season is kicker. Michigan has fired Jake “Money” Moody and James Turner in recent years to have one of the best special teams teams in the country. In 2024, Moore will most likely hire Zvada, a transfer from Arkansas State, as the new coach.

Kicking is half skill and half mental, and the jump from the Sun Belt Conference to the Big Ten is no joke. With Texas, USC, Washington and Oregon in sight, the former Lou Groza Award semifinalist will need to be consistent and confident to keep the fans and coaching staff on his side.

Zvada finished the 2023 season a perfect 41 of 41 on attempts, but converted just 17 of 22 field goal attempts for a season total of 51 yards. In comparison, he converted just 17 of 18 field goal attempts in the more accurate 2022 season.

1. Donovan Edwards

With Blake Corum moving on to the NFL, Edwards will be Michigan’s go-to back for the first time in 2024. The former five-star and national championship hero will need to show he can handle the increased workload and be effective as both a runner and receiver out of the backfield.

Michigan’s non-conference games will be an opportunity for Edwards to gain momentum. When he started in Corum’s absence in 2022, Edwards managed 216 rushing yards against Ohio State, 185 rushing yards against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game and 119 rushing yards against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, which averages 173.3 rushing yards per game when he started for Michigan. He also scored two touchdowns against Washington in the 2024 National Championship. By putting up big numbers and making impactful plays early, he can set the tone for the rest of the season.

Edwards is known for his ability to make big plays. To get going quickly, he needs to break up long runs and leave defenders running in the open field. This will not only boost his confidence, but also put pressure on opposing defenses. The only caveat is that Edwards is still healthy to start the season. With a bigger role, Edwards will need to prove he can stay healthy all season.

As a senior and one of the most experienced offensive players, Edwards must take on a leadership role. Encouraging his teammates, setting a positive example and leading through performance will help motivate the team.