Michigan Football’s 2024 Senior Class to Finish with Record-Breaking Wins: ‘A Pretty Good Résumé’
The 2024 Michigan football season may not have gone exactly as the senior class envisioned, but they are set to leave a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
The 16 seniors from the 2021 recruiting class, all of whom have been with the team on scholarship for four years, are poised to finish their careers as the winningest class in Michigan football history. With a current record of 45-8 and two regular season games left—plus a likely bowl game—the group has already secured its place in the annals of Michigan football history.
Of the eight losses, five have occurred this season.
Head coach Sherrone Moore expressed how much this senior class has meant to the program, especially given the challenges faced in 2024. “They mean so much to the program,” Moore said on Monday. “The record over the last four years—obviously, this year hasn’t been what we want it to be—but to have that kind of record is really big. These guys have made a huge positive impact on our program, and we’re so thankful for them. We want them to go out on a high note, particularly in their last game at the Big House.”
In 2023, the class of 2020 became the winningest group in Michigan’s four-year history with 42 victories. But the class of 2021, which includes standout players like Donovan Edwards, Giovanni El-Hadi, Rayshaun Benny, Rod Moore, Tavierre Dunlap, TJ Guy, Greg Crippen, Dominick Giudice, Tommy Doman, Ja’Den McBurrows, Jaydon Hood, Ike Iwunnah, Raheem Anderson, Kechaun Bennett, Tristan Bounds, and Tyler McLaurin, has already surpassed that total, making them the new record-holders.
In addition to the scholarship players, two of the most impactful figures in this senior class didn’t start out on scholarships. Former walk-ons Max Bredeson and Davis Warren, along with other former walk-ons like Peyton O’Leary, Keshaun Harris, Joe Taylor, and Christian Boivin, have all contributed significantly to the team’s success.
“Guys like that, guys like Breddy, made such an impact on the team,” Moore added, acknowledging the contributions of players who came to Michigan without a scholarship but have since become integral members of the squad.
The 2021 recruiting class was ranked 13th nationally by 247 Sports and has already produced two NFL-bound players—quarterback J.J. McCarthy and linebacker Junior Colson. For the remaining players, it’s hard to grasp that it’s their turn to walk out onto the field in front of 100,000 fans for their final home game.
“Man, it flew by,” said senior TJ Guy on Monday. “I’m definitely a different person than I was four years ago. I’m extremely grateful for the University of Michigan and everyone I’ve crossed paths with who’s helped me grow. It’s kind of surreal.”
“For me, I don’t think it’s going to hit me until I walk on the field with my mom, and that’s going to be a big moment for our family,” Guy continued. “But yeah, it’s a surreal feeling.”
Before the current run of success, the Michigan football program had never won more than 41 games in a four-year stretch. The most recent era—peaking from 2021 to 2023—has been extraordinary, with the team compiling a 40-3 record, defeating Ohio State three times in a row, winning three straight Big Ten titles, capturing a Rose Bowl, and contending for a national championship.
This senior class was part of the 2021 team that tied the program record for wins in a season (12), broke that record in 2022 (13), and then shattered it again in 2023 with 15 wins.
While the 2020 season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, giving all players an extra season of eligibility, it resulted in a higher-than-usual number of fifth-year players on the roster. These include captains Makari Paige, Kalel Mullings, Andrew Gentry, and Jeff Persi from the class of 2020, along with Quinten Johnson from 2019.
Michigan’s senior day will also include several transfer players, such as Josaiah Stewart, C.J. Charleston, Aamir Hall, Jack Tuttle, Wesley Walker, Josh Priebe, Ricky Johnson, and Myles Hinton, who will be honored for their contributions.
Despite the challenges of the 2024 season, the senior class can take pride in the trophies and accolades they’ve accumulated, which will serve as lasting memories from their time at Michigan.
“Yeah,” said Guy with a smile. “It’s a pretty good résumé.”
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