Five burning questions for coach Kyle Whittingham at Big Ten media days

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The unofficial start of college football season is here, with media days for multiple conferences already having taken place and with the Big Ten set to begin its turn on Tuesday.

Kyle Whittingham and his Michigan football contingent are set to appear on Thursday in Chicago, culminating the three-day conference by taking questions from the regional and national media for the first time in something that isn't particularly Wolverine-specific, as was his introductory press conference or subsequent interviews in Ann Arbor. WolverinesWire will be on-hand at Big Ten media days, and while we may only get a few questions in, here are our five, most burning questions for Whittingham when he takes either the dais or partakes in the more informal podium session.

Where is Bryce Underwood in his (re)development?

The biggest offseason discussion has surrounded Underwood, with some reports bordering on rumor, with some even saying that Whittingham and the staff want to move on from the enigmatic quarterback. We don't believe that for a second, but there has been copious fan consternation following Underwood's abysmal spring game showing.

It's fair to question where Underwood might be in terms of his ability to lead the team, not in general, but commensurate with his talent and ability as the former No. 1 overall recruit in the country. With a bear of a schedule, Underwood will need to be at or near his finest at his young age (he will turn 19 years old next month), and there may be some games, if the run game isn't taking over, where he will need to be electric and the best player on the field.

Expected to run much more than last year, Underwood will be a quintessential cog in the offense one way or another. So, how much of his mechanics, throwing motion, and willingness to stay in the pocket has he showcased behind the scenes and in 7-on-7 scrimmages this offseason? How much has he improved (if at all) since Whittingham first got eyes on him? All questions surrounding the second-year quarterback are of utmost importance.

How much advancement is expected in the pass game?

Not unrelated (of course) are the other elements of the pass game. The receiving corps has been overhauled, the offensive line has a new coach in Jim Harding — whom Whittingham has often called the best offensive line coach in the country. So there are a lot of other components that will need to work alongside Underwood in order for the offense to thrive and the run game not to be singularly targeted.

There's been a lot of talk about wide receiver Andrew Marsh and the ability he showcased in his freshman campaign. But what will that look like when he's the centerpiece of the pass game? How about the additions: JJ Buchanan, Jaime Ffrench, and Salesi Moa? Can some extant players — Kendrick Bell and Channing Goodwin — take steps forward to ensure playing time? How much will the tight ends contribute, and how much are Zack Marshall's comments about the offense allowing the pass catchers to play free are true?

But just as importantly, if not more so, centers around an offensive line that's shown proclivity in run blocking but has had intermittent struggles in pass protection. Even when improving last year, Underwood got happy feet, in large part due to the early-season struggles that they had. How much of the line has improved on that front?

These are questions that aren't likely to be answered on Thursday, but hearing that there have been improvements on all or some of these fronts would be reassuring.

Can Jason Beck replicate his top-tier scoring and offensive production in the Big Ten?

Last season at Utah, offensive coordinator Jason Beck boasted the fourth-rated total offense, scoring offense, and second-rated rushing offense. And it's not like he took over a Utah program that was moving the ball or scoring with ease — it was the No. 115 total offense and 102nd scoring offense in 2024. Beck might not have a long track record of turning things around quickly going to new teams, but he's done it twice — at New Mexico then Utah — which is more than happens for most young OCs. But there's an overwhelming suspicion by many that he won't be able to do the same in Ann Arbor.

Why not?

After all, this is the most talent that Whittingham and Beck have ever had all at once. Yes, the competition will be more fierce, but such was the case for Beck going from New Mexico to Utah, and yet he had better success moving up from the Mountain West to the Big 12. Now, this time he won't have Devon Dampier throwing the football and evading defenders in the run. Underwood is more ballyhooed — by a long shot — compared to Dampier coming out of high school. We've already covered Michigan's QB situation, but given what Beck has done with the breadth of the offenses he's been, it wouldn't be a surprise how much he may be able to improve a Michigan offense that was ranked 59th in total offense and 69th in scoring.

Can Carter Meadows crack the edge rusher rotation in year one?

We very well could ask about the defensive line as a whole, but Whittingham has been awfully confident that it's the strength of the team overall. Thus, we're thinking in a little more of a granular fashion, focusing on true freshman edge rusher Carter Meadows.

Meadows was a five-star who needed to bulk up a bit in order to be able to contend with Big Ten offensive linemen and tight ends. And, just before reporting for summer conditioning, he had reportedly started the process, having gained upwards of 20 pounds. So, where is he now? And how likely is he to contribute?

He'll have a bit of a battle to see the field. If John Henry Daley is fully healthy as expected, he's the No. 1 edge on the roster. Then, Dominic Nichols, Cam Brandt, and Lugard Edokpayi are expected to be vying either for No. 2 or to be in rotation. Is there a chance that a super athletic player who hasn't yet played a down of college football also make the cut?

Of course, the same things could be said of true freshmen at other positions. We know running back Savion Hiter and wide receiver Salesi Moa will see the field. We also wonder about defensive linemen Titan Davis and Allister Vallejo, who both reported in the summer. We wouldn't be surprised if linebacker Markel Dabney worked his way in. But ultimately, the player we wonder most about is Meadows, as five-stars tend to be of the instant impact variety.

How much different does he think the Big Ten will be for him compared to the Mountain West, Pac-12, and Big 12?

Whittingham has a strong track record of doing more with less. When he started as a head coach, taking over the Utah program from Urban Meyer, the Utes were in the Mountain West, and in 2011, they moved to the Pac-12 and didn't seem to skip a beat. Many act as if Utah fell off lately, and while some seasons haven't been quite up to the lofty expectations that Whittingham himself set, he still showed he could contend with the best (he lost a close game in a shootout in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State after the 2021 season) and beat the best (he beat USC twice in 2022, which was the only reason the Heisman-winning Caleb Williams didn't make the College Football Playoff that year; he also beat a Mario Cristobal-led Oregon the year before). So he faced some top talent in the Pac-12, but the Big Ten is another animal, especially now that it absorbed the top four teams from Whittingham's former league.

Ultimately, the Big Ten is more competitive and a stronger league than the two aforementioned and more top-heavy than the Big 12. Defenses are tougher, and the schedule this year for Michigan football is a fright, with Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State all on the docket. Football is football, and Whittingham's style of play — strong in the trenches — should lend well to Big Ten play. But, it's still a change. What does he expect to learn about league differences? How will he adapt and overcome? And, most importantly, how will he handle the rivalry games against Michigan State and Ohio State?

These are questions we won't know the answers to in earnest until the season, but it will be interesting to hear his thoughts on Thursday about this, and many other topics.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Five burning questions for coach Kyle Whittingham at Big Ten media days

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