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Throughout the entire off-season, Michigan fans wondered who would be the man to lead Michigan through the 2024 season. Within the first game, we got our answer.
Davis Warren
The Journey: A Story of Perseverance
There are four words that can bring a father to his knees, a mother to tears, and God to action: “Your child has cancer.” For the parents of Davis Warren, that’s exactly the words they heard his Junior year of High School.
Davis Warren’s battle with leukemia is a defining chapter in his life, one that has shaped him into the resilient leader he is today. In his junior year of high school, Warren was diagnosed with leukemia, sidelining him from football for nearly two years. During that time, his focus shifted from football to fighting for his life.
The treatments were grueling, and he was forced to put his athletic dreams on hold. But through immense courage and determination, Warren overcame the disease. His passion for football never wavered, even as he fought through chemotherapy and the difficult realities of his condition.
When Warren was finally cleared to return to football, he faced the monumental task of regaining his strength after nearly two years of being out of the game. His love for football fueled his recovery, and despite losing critical developmental years during high school, he refused to let go of his dream.
This journey not only displayed Warren’s tenacity but also revealed his deep inner strength. He embodies what it means to be a Wolverine, fighting his way back to the football field when many might have given up. His return wasn’t just a physical triumph but a mental and emotional one as well. Warren’s experience with leukemia provided him with a perspective that few others in college football possess.
This unique perspective makes him not just a great football player, but an inspiration to his teammates and coaches alike. They see in Warren someone who has fought and won battles far greater than any on the football field, and they rally around his strength and determination. This is why he was picked to lead and continues to do so.
Through his perseverance, Warren earned a spot at Michigan, first as a walk-on and eventually earning a scholarship. His rise through the ranks of the depth chart mirrors the battle he faced off the field—he fought for everything, never backing down from a challenge. Today, as Michigan’s starting quarterback, Warren’s battle with leukemia continues to be a source of strength for him, and it’s a key reason why he is the right leader for the Wolverines.
The Transition: Stepping Into the Spotlight
The transition from JJ McCarthy to Davis Warren has been nothing short of a challenge for the Wolverines, but a learning curve was expected. After all, it’s not every day you have to replace the best Quarterback in program history.
The Wolverines currently sit at 1-1, their worst mark since 2020 and first out-of-conference loss in the regular season since 2018. Many would be quick to blame Warren with 3 interceptions to start the year, but there is more to the story.
It sounds more like a broken record at this point, but the Wolverines had 13 players drafted into the NFL with even more being signed (a total of 18). This turnover was met with coaching changes as well, with Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL.
With nearly an entire new Michigan squad, it would be expected for them to struggle in 2024. The message you may be receiving from this is “It’s not Davis Warren’s fault,” but you’d be wrong. Without him, the situation would be 100x worse.
Davis Warren is…?
Although some fans might raise cause for concern, I believe Warren has raised cause for praise. In fact, he was Michigan’s highest rated offensive player Saturday.
Warren had a perfect QB rating on throws over 20 yards vs Texas, going 4/5 for 99 yards with a touchdown. His final line for the day was 22-33 for 204 yards and a touchdown, along with 2 INTs. Wolverine fans may cringe at the site of two picks, but a bit of context is needed.
The first interception was off a tipped ball, where it was first tipped at the line of scrimmage and tipped once again by the WR. The second was while the Wolverines were trying to force a comeback, with Warren trying to do too much.
For comparison, Heisman contender Quinn Ewers finished with a 66% completion mark (the same as Warren), 246 passing yards (42 more than Warren) and 0 yards rushing (3 less than Warren).
Although many will have their doubts, I truly believe that Davis Warren is the man for Michigan Football. He is the starter, he is the man, and he is the only person that can get this season back on track.
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[…] to what 2024 Michigan lacked, it was without a doubt a decent passing game. Although there was an amazing story behind Davis Warren, there was never really a connection between him and his wide receivers. As we enter a new era of […]