The USFL 2023 season is quickly approaching and with that, the Michigan Panthers will look to rebound after a rough first season under Jeff Fischer. With a new look roster and head coach in Mike Nolan, the Panthers will have the unique advantage of playing in front of their home fans in Detroit, at Ford Field.

Before the season begins on April 15th, here’s everything you need to know about the Michigan Panthers.

Michigan Panthers Enter USFL 2023 Season with QB Duel

After coming into the 2022 season with the top pick and a ton of hype, the Panthers were a mess all year. With the two-quarterback system of Shea Patterson and Paxton Lynch, the team ended their debut campaign at 2-8. With Patterson cut midway through the season and Lynch hopping over to the XFL, The Panthers find themselves with a reset at quarterback. Josh Love, out of San Jose State, was signed to the team after the departure of Patterson and found himself starting toward the end of the year.

Young second-year player Eric Barriere will also return to the team after signing in the USFL after a small minicamp stint in the NFL. The high-upside quarterback out of Eastern Washington saw few snaps in 2022 but brings a lot to the table for his sophomore campaign.

Former Nevada star and NFL draft pick Carson Strong also joined the team this offseason, offering Mike Nolan plenty of options at the quarterback position. With Strong being a very solid pro-style quarterback, expect to hear his name in the mix come week one.

With Barriere, Love, and Strong on the roster, some healthy competition will definitely exist early in the year. Love brings more experience to the table and has shown the ability to perform at a high level, but Barriere is the more explosive option, and Strong has NFL experience. At the end of the day, this is a run-heavy team, so Mike Nolan is going to go with the guy he trusts most at QB.

Run Heavy Offense Doubles Down:

If there was one thing the Michigan Panthers thrived in 2022, it was the run game. Led by star backs Reggie Corbin and Stevie Scott III, the team was able to rush for 1,343 yards in 2022, averaging 134 yards per game. Keeping their top-two backs with the team especially retaining All-USFL running back Reggie Corbin, was a key move in the off-season. With Mike Nolans’ additions furthering the run-heavy mentality, the key to success will be the Panthers’ offensive line. Losing starters Teton Sales and Maea Tuehema to the XFL did hurt, but Nolan doubled back to sign three linemen with NFL experience.

Michigan Panthers USFL 2023 running back Reggie Corbin celebrates a touchdown.

Michigan Panthers RB Reggie Corbin (3) – Vasha Hunt/USA Today Sports

Bringing in Gene Pryor and Denzel Okafor was the biggest move the team could have made to fix that hole in their offensive front. With a solid front five, Nolan has managed to do one of the hardest things in spring football, acquire a strong starting offensive line. With that improvement upfront and the consistency in the running back room, the run game should be a fun-to-watch aspect of Panther football in the USFL 2023 season.

Wide Reciever Room Looking Weak:

Without a doubt, the biggest hole in the Michigan Panthers offense, the wide receiver position, is looking subpar for Nolan and company. Losing their top two targets, Lance Renoir and Devin Ross, the Panthers didn’t add much to recover from the rough hit. Adding veteran spring football standout Ishmael Hyman and former NFLer Trey Quinn will help, but there isn’t a whole lot of positivity surrounding this crew. Mike Nolan is still aiming to be a run-heavy team, so play-action passes, and scheming receivers will be the most important aspect of the Panthers’ passing game. If the group doesn’t offer much in the season, expect to see some of those famous mid-season spring football signing to bolster the wideout position.

Defense Sharpens Claws:

Defensively, 2022 saw the Panthers putting up average numbers. There was plenty the team could improve upon, but nothing to really frown about. Before Mike Nolan came, I would have said to expect more of the same out of the Panthers’ defense, but now this group looks like one that can be one of the best defenses in the USFL. Mike Nolan is a defensive-minded coach with plenty of disciplined and fundamental defenses on his resume. This will do wonders for a spring football team that lacked foundation last season.

After losing key talent on their defensive line and their best group, the secondary, Nolan was able to swing multiple replacement signings to help fill those gaps.

On the line, TJ Carter and Kyshonn Tyson both left with Carter heading to the Los Angeles Rams and Carter opting out of his contract. Sure, these are tough losses, but the additions on the line outweigh them by far. Adding former high school star and Arizona Cardinals 2016 top pick Robert Nkemdiche will bring star power and prowess to the Panthers’ pass rush. Former Kansas City Chiefs’ second-rounder, Breeland Speaks, was also added to the team in the offseason.

New Michigan Panther for the USFL 2023 season Robert Nkemdiche.

Former Arizona Cardinal DT Robert Nkemdiche (90) – Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

In the secondary, James Houston, Tino Ellis, and Sean Williams all left the team to pursue other opportunities. Houston and Williams headed to the XFL, whereas Ellis headed to the Miami Dolphins. This means that returning rookies Eddie Graham and Cory Rahman will look to increase their roles within the defense. If they don’t step up, Michigan could flip from one of the best secondaries to the bottom of the league. To help them out, the Panthers signed former Michigan Wolverine and NFL safety Lano Hill, a former college standout with a lot to prove.

What to Look For:

As spring football begins, fans have to take into account the ever-changing rosters of these teams. Plenty of signings will occur, and many of the players drafted in the USFL draft will choose whether or not to sign with their team after the NFL draft process occurs. This means that some of the Michigan Panthers’ big-name draftees may or may not join the team around the week three to four mark. With the new season approaching quickly, the Michigan Panthers need to hope many of their top picks opt to join the team, as it could turn them into one of the best teams in the league and a title contender.

There is a lot to look forward to for Michigan Panthers fans despite a rough first season. Head coach Mike Nolan has the team heading in the right direction, which fans will be able to see and enjoy from their new Detroit home at Ford Field. Maybe a return to the Michigan Panthers 1983 Championship ways is in order.

For more team previews before the USFL 2023 season, click here.