Michigan football's passing attack hasn't exactly been elite through three games.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood is No. 100 in the nation in total passing yards (504) through three games. While some of that can be attributed to the fact he's averaging just 21.3 throws per game, he's still only tied for No. 70 in yards per pass attempt.
There is still optimism about the passing attack, however, in large part due to U-M's two-headed monster at receiver with Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan.
Buchanan had six catches for a career-high 126 yards and a game-winning touchdown reception on a Hail Mary to save U-M in a 13-12 Week 1 win over Western Michigan.
Then, he caught a career-high seven passes for 92 yards and a score against UTEP but still didn't lead U-M's
pass catchers that day, as Marsh had 10 grabs for 105 yards and a 34-yard touchdown reception.
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The two got frequent praise in the offseason and lived up to the billing in the nonconference slate.
“The thing that Drew excels at is when the ball gets in his hand – and it seems like the bigger the competition, the bigger he steps up to the moment,” inside wide receivers coach Marques Hagans said on Monday’s Inside Michigan Football Radio Show. "JJ is very similar to Drew. He shows up every day, he’s prepared to work, he doesn’t complain, he does what you ask. He’s learning how to use his body, how to get open in different situations.
"Those guys are growing at a high level, they compete against each other, and they set the example for the room."
While those two are expected to remain featured for the rest of the season, U-M is looking for a reliable third option. Channing Goodwin remains on the short list, but true freshman Salesi Moa is starting to emerge.
He got his first career start against UTEP and made the first two receptions of his career in the fourth quarter of the game, both from backup quarterback Tommy Carr. His first grab was a 4-yard slant, but his second was a highlight.
He ran a fade from the left slot, and as the ball came soaring his way to the back corner of the end zone, he flipped his head around over his other shoulder, hauled in a tough reception and dragged his toes for a 19-yard highlight touchdown.
He played 27 snaps in total and flashed some of the skills that made him a high four-star recruit and a top-50 recruit in the country in the class of 2026. It took a few weeks for Marsh to become a factor in the pass game last season, and the hope is Moa is on a similar trajectory.
"If we can get guys to step up and have another option or two in addition to JJ and Andrew, that just makes us a better football team," Whittingham said.
Tight ends missing in action
Historically, tight ends have been an important part of Michigan's passing attack.
The same is true where Whittingham came from at Utah, with a tight end finishing with more than 500 yards five times and as one of the top two pass catchers on the team in six of the past seven seasons. This year, however, that hasn't been the case.
Jalen Hoffman has two receptions for 22 yards, and to this point he is the only tight end to have a single reception on the year. To be fair, the room has been a bit banged up. Hogan Hansen missed the first two games of the year and Deakon Tonielli missed Week 3, but it still doesn't explain how there's been almost zero production from the unit.
"That room is still a work in progress," Whittingham said. "It was good to get Hogan back. He brings some things to the table that the other guys don't. I mean, it's kind of a collection of of guys that all have different skill set, and I thought Zach Marshall did some good things on Saturday, as well.
"We're looking forward to Mason Bonner's continuing progression and trying to get him a little more integrated as he's ready for it."
One possible reason is U-M is making a concerted effort to get the ball into the hands of its four premiere playmakers: Marsh, Buchanan, Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter. While that may be the case, U-M has a tight end on the field in most formations and can't afford next-to-no production in the pass game from the unit.
Eli Owens, now wearing Max Bredeson's No. 44, who's gotten the second-most snaps of anybody in the room offered a blunt assessment leading into U-M's top-20 matchup with Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 26 (3:30 p.m., CBS).
If we want to improve our role, we have to perform better," he said Tuesday after practice. "That's simply what it is. I mean, if you ask me, I don't think we're performing terribly. But to be where we want to be, which is the best tied-in unit in America. We have to do better, and it's as simple as that."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Next up: Hawkeyes
Matchup: No. 18 Michigan (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 17 Iowa (3-0, 0-0); Big Ten opener.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: CBS; WCSX (94.7).
Line: Wolverines by 4½.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's passing attack hasn't been elite, but there's hope
