The Michigan Wolverines brought in new offensive coordinator Jason Beck, who arrived in Ann Arbor following a highly-productive campaign under head coach Kyle Whittingham at Utah in 2025. Here are three
pros and two cons for Michigan hiring Beck to be the next offensive play caller.
Pro: Brings the Big 12’s best run offense with him
In his lone season at Utah, Beck helped the Utes lead the FBS with 6.02 yards per carry and top the Big 12 with 266.3 rushing yards per game. Utah’s high-powered offense also recorded the second-most rushing touchdowns (41) in the country and scored a Big 12-best 41.2 points per game.
With no disrespect to Utah, Beck will have a more talented running back room at his disposal at Michigan with Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter, Taylor Tatum and others. Beck’s history suggests he can build on Michigan’s already-dynamic rushing attack by adding efficiency and explosiveness.
Con: Lack of experience play calling at this level
There is a ton of upside, but also a couple reasons for concern with Beck taking over the offense and play calling duties. First off, he doesn’t have a ton of experience at this level. Beck has only been an offensive coordinator and play caller for the last three years – at Syracuse in 2023, New Mexico in 2024 and Utah in 2025.
His results at Utah were very impressive, but Beck has only called plays at the FBS level for two seasons. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the transition to one of the best conferences in all of college football comes with some growing pains.
Pro: Proven success with dual-threat quarterbacks
Throughout his coaching career, Beck has proven an ability to succeed with dual-threat quarterbacks, which is an important factor since Bryce Underwood is set to return to Michigan for his sophomore season. Beck has maximized quarterbacks that can stress opposing defenses with their arm and legs, with the most recent example being Devon Dampier at both New Mexico and Utah.
Dampier flourished under Beck’s guidance and developed into one of the Big 12’s best quarterbacks in 2025, passing for 2,490 yards, rushing for 835 and scoring 34 total touchdowns. His production was even better the year prior at New Mexico, as he threw for 2,768 yards, ran for 1,166 yards and had 31 total touchdowns. Underwood has all the tools to be a great player, and it seems like Beck could help him reach his full potential.
Con: Needs to demonstrate ability to raise recruiting prowess
In addition to having a lack of experience being a play caller at this level, Beck also needs to demonstrate he has the ability to recruit at a high level. He has never been in position to recruit the best players on a national scale, but he will have every opportunity to do so at Michigan.
He will also be expected to recruit in-state and the Midwest as a whole, which means establishing credibility and connections in the region as quickly as possible. With increased resources, Beck should be able to hit the ground running as a recruiter.
Pro: Reputation for creative, innovative offensive schemes
Beck has a reputation for having a very creative and innovative offensive scheme. He is known for his imaginative use of pre-snap motion, and his ability to create favorable matchups and manipulate opposing defenses.
Rather than forcing players into a rigid system like a lot of offensive coordinators tend to do, Beck has shown he is willing to tailor his offense to the strengths of his personnel. That adaptability could be critical when competing in the Big Ten, where defensive schemes can vary from week to week.
