The 2024 draft hasn’t been too kind to the reigning national champions. After stars like JJ McCarthy, Blake Corum, Roman Wilson, and Zak Winter decided to leave for the NFL, the Wolverines were left with a big void in the team since they were some of the top players. Plus, with Jim Harbaugh leaving, there’s been a lot of pressure on Sherrone Moore to rebuild but according to Jacob Oden, the fans have nothing to worry about.

Jacob Oden, the defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines, might be the key to the team’s glory this season. Since over 18 players left for the draft, the responsibility will befall the young players in the team, much like Oden. In 2023, Oden recorded 56 tackles and 14 pass breakups, while also playing on offense as a wide receiver. As such, he has displayed enough talent on the gridiron for the fans to believe his mighty words for the Wolverines’ future this season.

Jacob Oden makes a bold prediction for the Michigan Wolverines

Oden was named as a number 7 player in Michigan and a four-star prospect by 247 sports and now, he’ll be stronger than ever to ensure Moore’s success with the men in maize. The Michigan Wolverines is a newly stocked team with changes ranging from management to the very players themselves, despite that, nothing will change in their overall performance, as per Oden.

The DB expressed an immense trust in Moore’s capabilities and assured the fans by saying, “I feel like coming into this season, people think that we’re just going to lay down because we lost 18 people to the Draft. I’m like, no. We’re gonna be the same Michigan, same team, same culture. Nothing’s gonna change. It’s all the same.” Thus, Oden’s words are meant to strike fear in the hearts of their rival teams, who might underestimate them because everyone jumped ship.

Moreover, Oden talked highly about the newest DB coach for Michigan, LaMar Morgan, who recently took over for Jesse Minter, who followed Jim Harbaugh to the LA Chargers, as part of a mass exodus from the Wolverines.

LaMar Morgan is chill, says Oden

Sherrone Moore probably had to rub his eyes several times after being a witness to the majority of the team coming apart structurally. The Jim Harbaugh effect enveloped the team and had coaches like Ben Herbert, Jesse Minter, and even Steve Clinkscal, the final piece of the defensive staff. Even though Moore is doing his best to salvage the roster and try to bring in new additions, the situation does seem to raise a few eyebrows over whether they’ll be able to defend their title this season.

Fortunately, Oden had a positive review to give for LaMar Morgan, the newly appointed DB coach, and said that he “is a cool guy.” Additionally, Morgan is supposedly a very humble man who gets along with everybody. Oden concluded his statement by saying, “So we’ve been trying to build this connection to everybody in the group, trying to build this connection. So I feel like he’s getting there with us for sure.” Even though Oden came in as just a freshman, it is evident that he cares a lot about the Michigan culture and desperately wants to upscale the team’s performance this season.