Michigan Insider Puts Sherrone Moore’s Future in Shaky Ground With Big Revelation on OL Coach Grant Newsome

Sherrone Moore’s first season as Michigan Wolverines’ head coach was a paradox. On one hand, he kept the U-Mich ‘steady’ after Jim Harbaugh’s departure, guiding them to an 8-5 record in a year of transition. On the other, cracks started forming in key areas—most notably on the offensive line and in the QB1 room. An O-line that looked unrecognizable from its Joe Moore Award-winning dominance of previous years. And now, with the star DL combo of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant off to the NFL, pressure is mounting over OL coach Grant Newsome. Moore has stability for now, but Michigan insiders are already watching closely to see if Year 2 follows the trend of past great coaches—or becomes a step toward the hot seat.

Michigan fans saw the highs when Sherrone Moore’s team took down Ohio State and Alabama in thrilling fashion, but they also witnessed the lows: a stagnant passing game and revolving-door quarterback play. Michigan’s passing attack was a disaster last season, ranking 131st in the country, and that was despite rolling out three different QBs before settling on Davis Warren. Even with No. 1 QB Bryce Underwood committed for the future, there’s no clear answer for 2025. That uncertainty led Michigan Football Report’s James Yoder to sound the alarming questions ahead of spring practice.

Questioning whether Sherrone Moore can build on his Year 1 success or if the Wolverines are headed for turbulence. “More than three losses and there will be a melee in Ann Arbor,” Yoder warned. That’s not hyperbole—it’s the reality of Michigan’s expectations. Moore took over a program that had been built into a perennial national contender. If the Wolverines slip too far from that standard, the fanbase will turn quickly. Yoder pointed to a pattern among elite coaches, noting that the second and third years often define a tenure. “Typically guys have their best years—sometimes their best years ever—in years two and three,” he said. He rattled off examples: Urban Meyer at Ohio State, Kirby Smart at Georgia, even his ex-boss Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh went 10-3 in Year 1, then had his team undefeated and ranked No. 2 before falling just short of a playoff bid in Year 2. Lloyd Carr took over Michigan in a similarly difficult transition and won a national title in Year 3. Ryan Day? National Championship game in Year 2. That’s the level Michigan is used to. That’s the expectation Moore is now measured against. “We’re going to find out really soon. If we are sitting at another five-or-worse-loss season, the boo birds are going to come out in full force,” Yoder continued. “Fans are going to be saying Sherrone Moore is not the right guy. He’s on the hot seat.” The message is clear: Michigan doesn’t do rebuilding years.

If Moore’s biggest test is in the pocket, his second-biggest concern might be on the offensive line. That’s where the microscope is now on OL coach Grant Newsome, whose unit struggled mightily in 2024. Michigan’s identity under Harbaugh was built on dominant line play. That vanished last season. Yoder didn’t sugarcoat his evaluation, giving Newsome a “C” grade and highlighting a glaring drop-off. “For starters, okay, some challenges there, and they did get better by the end of the year, but not great,” he said.

Improvement is expected, but there’s no room for another slow start. “You don’t have to be at the Joe Moore-winning level of 2021 and 2022 or even the national championship level of 2023, but it has to be better than Evan Stink Link—the worst-graded offensive lineman through like eight games in the history of college football according to Pro Football Focus.” That’s the standard. That’s the gap Michigan must close if it wants to compete with the Big Ten’s elite again.

And if Newsome doesn’t fix it quickly, his seat will only get hotter. “I think he is short for the job. I think he’ll get replaced,” Yoder added. That’s a blunt assessment, but it reflects the pressure on Michigan’s coaching staff. The Wolverines aren’t in a place where they can afford to let problems linger. There’s no room for sluggish development or “we’ll fix it next year” mindsets. Either Newsome finds solutions, or Michigan might be looking for a new OL coach sooner rather than later.

The good news for Moore? He’s not without wins in his first year. One of his most impressive moves was keeping defensive coordinator Wink Martindale from bolting back to the NFL. That kind of retention matters, especially with Michigan losing so much talent on defense.

Sherrone Moore’s pre-spring practice witchcraft to keep the Wolverines howling

Building a championship team isn’t just about culture and mentality—you’ve got to have the right pieces in place. And Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore wasted no time ensuring the Wolverines are locked and loaded for another title push in 2025. As spring practice kicked off on March 18, Moore had already made some major moves to keep Michigan at the top of the college football world.

First up? Elite talent acquisition. The Wolverines landed a stacked 2025 recruiting class, featuring five-star standouts like Bryce Underwood, Andrew Babalola, Ty Haywood, and Nate Marshall. If there was any doubt about Moore’s ability to recruit at an elite level, consider that question answered.

But he didn’t stop there. Michigan also raided the transfer portal, signing 13 players to bolster the roster. One of the biggest additions? Quarterback Mikey Keene, who brings experience and depth to the Wolverines’ QB room.

And let’s talk coaching. Moore brought in Chip Lindsey from North Carolina as his new offensive coordinator. Lindsey, a 27-year coaching veteran, has led offenses that have averaged 30+ points per game in nine of the last 12 seasons.