Davis Warren, quarterback
After Michigan lost its star quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, to the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft, the reigning national champions’ battle for a new team leader began. Senior Davis Warren, the former preferred walk-on, solidified his spot as first-string quarterback with a solid performance in the season opener against Fresno State on Saturday night by completing 15 of 25 passes for 118 yards. Despite a first quarter interception and a fourth quarter touchdown from Fresno State, leaving the game’s score within one touchdown, Warren didn’t panic. Instead he threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland to bump the Wolverines back up to a comfortable lead. Despite a strong showing against the Colorado State Rams, giving up just 192 total yards, the Texas defense will have its work cut out for it against Warren and the Wolverines on Saturday.
Kalel Mullings, running back
Warren found frequent success working with senior running back Kalel Mullings. Although he finished the game without a touchdown, Mullings picked up 92 yards in 15 rushes against Fresno State and set up the Wolverines for good field positions that led to scoring. The 6-foot-2-inch, 223-pound veteran broke tackles and dodged defenders, creating all sorts of problems for Fresno State. The Longhorns, one of 2023’s top rushing defenses, lost several strong players to the NFL draft this past year, such as defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat and linebacker Jaylon Ford. Even with a promising start against Colorado State, Texas’ new starting defensive line duo of Barryn Sorrell and Alfred Collins will show their true skill against one of the best rushing teams in the country.
Donovan Edwards, running back
Michigan’s veteran running back, Donovan Edwards, played a relatively lackluster game against Fresno State, but his experience poses a threat to Texas on Saturday. The star senior decided not to enter the NFL draft last year; instead, he’s finishing his last year of NCAA eligibility with the Wolverines. Edwards was a key rusher in the Wolverines’ national championship season who sealed his legacy with two touchdowns in the championship game against Washington. The Longhorn defensive line full of newcomers needs to stay poised when dealing with experienced players like Edwards. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian utilized 21 defensive players against Colorado State, so it will be interesting to see who shines in the Big House.
Josaiah Stewart, defensive end
Michigan’s ability to hold Fresno State at only 10 points last Saturday highlights its strong defensive performance. Senior defensive end Josaiah Stewart played a big part in this. He picked up two of the three Michigan sacks, putting him on track to comfortably outdo his record of 5.5 sacks last season. The Texas offensive line gave up one sack against Colorado State, but now faces a greater challenge with several high powered defensive linemen. The Longhorns’ strong passing game, led by junior quarterback Quinn Ewers, should be quick and decisive, giving Stewart no time to break through the linemen and add another sack to his stat sheet.
