Michigan football announces 4 captains for the 2024 season

The Michigan football program has announced its captains for the 2024 season.

Seniors Donovan Edwards (running back), Max Bredeson (H-back) and Rod Moore (safety) and graduate student Makari Paige (safety) have been named the formal leaders of Team 145 — none of which come as all that much of a surprise .

Edwards, Bredeson and Paige were Michigan’s three player representatives last month during Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis, while Moore likely would have been a representative had he not sustained a knee injury early in spring practice which then required surgery.

While coaches have left the door open for a return from Moore, transfer graduate safety Wesley Walker said last week he would not have come to Ann Arbor without Moore’s situation, which felt like an implication he will be out the vast majority, if not all, of the season.

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“We’ve got to keep the guy motivated, keep him around, have him in our offices all the time, ask him questions on game plans,” defensive backs coach Lamar Morgan said of Moore this summer. “I haven’t met anyone that got hurt that is willing to come up here and meet with players, and he might not be able to play the first half of the season.

“It takes a special person to do that. He hurt his leg and the next day he’s in the front row of our meeting. I haven’t seen that in my career.”

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As for the others, Edwards is certainly the household name, not only was he a five-star recruit from West Bloomfield but he burst onto the scene with extremely impressive freshmen and sophomore seasons before a down junior year.

Edwards was the complementary back behind Blake Corum, the program’s all-time touchdown leader, since 2021 but enters this year as the feature back for the first time in his career. Expectations are high from many for Edwards, one of three players to grace the cover of the new video game College Football 25.

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The tailback comes off of what was largely a down year when he ran 113 times for 393 yards and three touchdowns through the first 14 games, but does bring a bit of momentum into the season having run for 104 yards and two touchdowns to finish the year in Michigan’s 34-13 national title win over Washington.

“I’m still hungry,” Edwards said on ‘The LAB podcast by Champions Circle. “The season wasn’t how I wanted it to be necessarily. And, just popping out the way that I did on the biggest stage, for me, it’s like, that’s great. But, you know, like, what’s better than doing it again, you know, like, what’s better than working hard in the offseason.

“So, that’s what my mindset is, I’m still hungry.”

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He’s one of two West Bloomfield alums to be honored with the ‘C’ for UM — the other is Paige, who also played for Ron Bellamy (now Wolverines wide receiver coach) for the Lakers. Paige has been a steady force in the Michigan secondary for years, with 41 games and 20 starts under his belt.

Last season, the free safety recorded 41 tackles with two pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and a quarterback hurry as he was named a Big Ten honorable mention.

“I think Makari is going to step up,” Morgan said over the spring. “I know Makari, y’all talked to Makari sometimes, he’s a quiet guy. Makari is going to step up and he’s going to do a great job, I’m excited about him.”

Last but not least, Bredeson, the hybrid tight end and fullback who got his request to be listed as an h-back on the official roster.

Bredeson hasn’t put up massive stats in his career — he’s recorded seven catches for 98 yards in four years — but has become part of the heart beat for this era.

A former walk-on, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Bredeson has worked his way into a leadership position after playing in 28 games the past three seasons. He was a Burlsworth Trophy nominee in 2023, given annually to the most outstanding FBS college football player who began his career as a walk-on, and has a decent shot to take home the award this season.

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“Max Bredeson is as important of a player that we have,” said tight ends coach Steve Casula. “He may not show up each and every week on the stat sheet but when you want to talk about someone who allows us to establish our identity in terms of running the football, Max is vital to that.”

Last year, Michigan has six captains − Michael Barrett (linebacker), Corum (running back), Kris Jenkins (defensive lineman), Trevor Keegan (left guard), Mike Sainristil (cornerback) and Zak Zinter (right guard) − all of whom are currently in the NFL.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football announces captains for 2024 season