Michigan's defense now knows who it will be facing at quarterback this afternoon against Rutgers, but there's still some uncertainty surrounding one of the Scarlet Knights' biggest offensive weapons.
With starting quarterback Sean Lonergan unavailable, AJ Surace will get the start for Rutgers against Michigan. Meanwhile, standout wide receiver KJ Duff went through pregame warmups and is expected to attempt to play despite previously being listed as doubtful.
The quarterback development is particularly significant for Rutgers, which will be forced to navigate a matchup against Michigan's talented defense without its usual starter under center.
Surace has appeared in five games this season, completing 40 of his 71 passing attempts (56.3 percent) for 539 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. He's averaging 107.8 passing yards per game and 7.6 yards per attempt.
For comparison, Lonergan has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 1,066 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in six appearances.
While Surace has shown an ability to produce through the air, his five interceptions on just 71 attempts suggest that Michigan's defense could have opportunities to create turnovers.
Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill will undoubtedly look to make life difficult for Surace, potentially bringing pressure and forcing the Rutgers quarterback to make quick decisions.
Of course, having Duff available would make Surace's job considerably easier.
Duff has been one of the most productive wide receivers in the country this season, hauling in 45 receptions for 774 yards and nine touchdowns through seven games. He's averaging an impressive 17.2 yards per reception and 110.6 receiving yards per game, making him easily the Scarlet Knights' most dangerous offensive weapon.
In fact, Rutgers' next-leading receiver in terms of yardage is Ben Black III, who has just 10 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Jourdin Houston is third with 17 catches for 184 yards.
That illustrates just how important Duff is to the Rutgers passing attack.
However, going through warmups and being able to contribute effectively during live game action are two different things. It remains unclear how much Duff will actually be able to play, or whether he'll be limited if he does take the field.
For Michigan, that's an important situation to monitor.
If Duff is healthy enough to play meaningful snaps, the Wolverines will have to account for his ability to stretch the field and make explosive plays. If he's limited or unavailable, Rutgers could find itself without its starting quarterback and its most productive offensive weapon at full strength.
Either way, Michigan's defense has an opportunity to take advantage of a Rutgers offense dealing with significant personnel uncertainty.
