Raheem Anderson, C (Western Michigan): Anderson is a backup lineman for Western Michigan.
Andrel Anthony, WR (Duke): Anthony did not record any stats in a 45-33 win over North Carolina State.
Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley made 1 tackle in a 29-20 win over South Carolina.
Kechaun Bennett, DE (UCLA): UCLA (0-3) had a bye after firing head coach Deshaun Foster. Bennett has 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 1 quarterback hurry this year.
Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds is a starting offensive tackle for Arizona.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. NEBRASKA RUSH DEFENSE Michigan is #15 in rushing (242.7 yards/game) and yards per carry (6.12). The revelation last week was QB Bryce Underwood's legs when he ran 9 times for 114 yards and 1 touchdown. Running back Justice Haynes has 100+ yards in all three games this season and averages 7.92 yards per attempt so far. Backup RB Jordan Marshall (10 carries, 52 yards, 2 TD last week) had his best game and showed off some nice speed, though one long touchdown run was called back because of a hold. On the offensive line, Michigan will likely be without LG Giovanni El-Hadi but should get RG Brady Norton back from injury. Nebraska is #75 in rushing defense (136 yards allowed/game) and #84 in yards allowed per carry (4.04). Against the lone Power 4 team they played so far, they gave up 30 carries for 202 yards (6.7 yards/carry) to Cincinnati, including 13 carries for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns to QB Brendan Sorsby. Underwood is obviously a better athlete than Sorsby, so has Nebraska figured anything out? Will Michigan let Underwood run that much? It remains to be seen. Nebraska runs a 3-3-5 defense, so the base includes a good number of defensive backs, but their top five tacklers are all defensive backs. Senior safety DeShon Singleton (6'3", 210) and redshirt freshman Rex Guthrie (6'1", 200) lead the team with 12 tackles each. Former top-100 recruit Elijah Jeudy (6'3", 300) starts at nose tackle after coming over from Alabama, and Missouri transfer Williams Nwaneri (6'7", 265) is another former highly recruited player who starts on the defensive line. Michigan should be too big for Nebraska to handle up front, but the 3-3-5 can be tough against gap runs, because sometimes all those linebackers can get run-throughs when linemen pull. Advantage: Michigan
Michigan has only played Nebraska tentimes throughout history and has a 6-4 record against the Cornhuskers. They first played in 1962, but then did not play again until the Fiesta Bowl at the end of the 1985 season. Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2011. Jim Harbaugh went 4-0 against the 'Huskers.
Steve Breaston 69-yard kickoff return (2005)
Donovan Peoples-Jones 60-yard punt return TD (2018)
Dylan McCaffrey 56-yard TD pass to Ronnie Bell (2018)
Hassan Haskins 50-yard run (2021)
Cade McNamara 48-yard pass to Mike Sainristil (2021)
Denard Robinson 46-yard pass to Roy Roundtree (2011)
Karan Higdon 46-yard TD run (2018)
Karan Higdon 44-yard TD run (2018)
Denard Robinson 38-yard TD pass to Martavious Odoms (2011)
Cade McNamara 35-yard pass to Daylen Baldwin (2021)
Hit the jump for videos of Peoples-Jones, McCaffrey-to-Bell, and Haskins.
Michigan is really good. No disrespect to CMU, but that was an a** kicking. Michigan dominated them physically, and that happened minus the two starting offensive guards and a potential starting left tackle in Andrew Babalola. Michigan averaged 7.7 yards per play, including 6.9 yards per rushing attempt and 9.4 yards per passing attempt. Michigan had seven players with a rush of 10+ yards, including two wide receivers in Andrew Marsh and Anthony Simpson.
Or Central Michigan isn't good. One thing I have noticed over the years is that the weaker opponents usually have at least one guy who's dangerous, whether it's a tough running back who's difficult to bring down or a speedy slot receiver or maybe a quick quarterback. That's not the case with Central Michigan. I didn't see anyone who made me nervous, and they couldn't threaten the Wolverines. Defensively, they might play with enough discipline to get some wins this season, but they don't have playmakers on offense.
I've been aware of Matt Drinkall for a while because of clinics and such. Having spent several years at Army recently, he's very much entrenched in that style of football, which is about discipline and conservative football.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. CENTRAL MICHIGAN RUSH DEFENSE Michigan is #60 in rushing offense (173.5 yards/game) after two contests and #37 in yards per carry (5.42), based largely on the running of Alabama transfer Justice Haynes (35 carries, 284 yards, 4 touchdowns), who has 75-, 59-, and 56-yard runs already this year. The big question for this phase is the offensive line, which already lost 5-star freshman Andrew Babalola prior to the season and saw left guard Giovanni El-Hadi go down last week against Oklahoma. Even Cal Poly transfer Brady Norton, the starter at right guard, had to leave last week's game at one point, drawing in redshirt freshman Jake Guarnera. El-Hadi will likely miss this week's game, so I would expect Nate Efobi to start this week. Central Michigan is #48 in yards allowed per game (99.5) and #84 in yards allowed per carry (3.98) after a week in which they allowed Pitt to run 26 times for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. That's not an awful performance, but it indicates CMU will probably struggle against a Big Ten rushing attack. Senior inside linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski (6'1", 235) leads the team with 14 tackles and fifth year senior OLB Dakota Cochran (6'2", 240) is right behind him with 13. Redshirt sophomore OLB Korver Demma (6'3", 245), a transfer from Nebraska, leads the team with 1.5 tackles for loss. The defensive line will be undersized compared to most Michigan opponents. This should be a "get right" game for Michigan's offensive line to continue working on its cohesiveness. Advantage: Michigan
Michigan is 3-0 over Central Michigan all-time with wins taking place in 2003, 2006, and 2013. It's a little surprising to me that it was twelve years ago when the Wolverines last played the Chips, but I guess time flies.
All of these names make some sense except one . . . and that name appears twice.
Chris Perry 63-yard run (2003)
Raymon Taylor 53-yard interception return (2013)
John Navarre 48-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards (2003)
Devin Gardner 45-yard pass to Joe Reynolds (2013)
Dennis Norfleet 39-yard kickoff return (2013)
Steve Breaston 38-yard punt return (2003)
Dennis Norfleet 38-yard run (2013)
John Navarre 36-yard pass to Steve Breaston (2003)
Shane Morris 36-yard pass to Devin Funchess (2013)
Derrick Green 30-yard run (2013)
Joe Reynolds 30-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown (2013)
Yep, it's walk-on receiver Joe Reynolds appearing twice on the above list that's a name you totally didn't expect to see.
The team the team the team. I'm not going to start off talking about He Who Shall Not Be Named in the First Paragraph because I want to take a more holistic look at Michigan's 2025 team. But this looks like a complete team. I don't think it's a championship team, but it's a complete team in that there are no glaring weaknesses or players who are obviously overmatched. Now some might say "Meh, it's New Mexico and they were 5-7 last year and lost their coach and brought in a bunch of new players," but it's a team that had a mindset of running the ball last year (#2 in the country in 2024) and it's one that seems to have taken on the attitude of its coach. I heard good things about Jason Eck a few years ago on the coaching clinic circuit, and the team played with some swagger, which you have to do coming into Michigan Stadium as a giant underdog. Michigan looks like a pro team in the sense that there are no easy days against pro teams. If you have an injury on your 53-man roster in the NFL, you bring in another guy who looks like a pro, because he's been a backup or he's a veteran who played for ten years but maybe didn't have the right contract situation. I mentioned before that this is the deepest Michigan team I've seen (perhaps not the best, but the deepest), and I think that showed on Saturday night.
Name: Jyaire Hill Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Kankakee (IL) Kankakee Position: Cornerback Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #20 Last year: I ranked Hill #20 and said he would be a starting cornerback with 25 tackles and 2 interceptions (LINK). He started nine games and made 35 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 9 pass breakups. TTB Rating: 88
Hill had an odd season in 2024. It was both a breakout season and an odd season. He became a starter for the first time, making nine starts in a defensive backfield that had Will Johnson, Zeke Berry, and Aamir Hall. The season included his first career interception, a very nice play against Minnesota.
And then against Northwestern, he didn't start, played only seven snaps, and wore #35 in what appeared to be a disciplinary move. It's not often that a player changes numbers for a single game, but the whispers behind the scenes for the past couple years have been that Hill is extremely talented but still has some work to do with the choices he makes.
Can Hill take that next step in 2025? He should be a starter at cornerback, and he reportedly took steps forward last year with his preparation. With a good season this fall, he could potentially jump to the NFL. But if those questions persist and NFL general managers are concerned, he might have to spend another year in college in 2026. So this could be a giant swing year for Hill, and if he can lock down opposing receivers, he could be a hugely valuable asset for the Wolverines.
New Mexico is coached by Jason Eck, who comes to UNM from FCS Idaho. Eck is a former Wisconsin offensive lineman under Barry Alvarez. Eck went 23-16 in three seasons at Idaho and replaces former BYU and Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall, who took the head coaching job at Utah State.
RUSH OFFENSE vs. NEW MEXICO RUSH DEFENSE Last year's rushing offense wasn't great. But it's also not back. Kalel Mullings (948 yards, 12 TD) and Donovan Edwards (589 yards, 4 TD) are gone, and so are four offensive linemen who started games: Myles Hinton, Josh Priebe, Dominic Giudice, and Andrew Gentry. (Gentry will start at right tackle for BYU, former backup Jeff Persi will start at left tackle for Pitt, and Giudice will start at left guard for Missouri.) Meanwhile, 23 of Jordan Marshall's 31 carries came in the ReliaQuest Bowl, and Alabama transfer Justice Haynes ran for 448 total yards in 2024. Michigan's offensive line will be redshirt sophomore Evan Link, fifth year senior Giovanni El-Hadi, fifth year senior Greg Crippen, redshirt sophomore Brady Norton, and redshirt freshman Andrew Sprague from left to right. New Mexico has a new head coach in former Idaho head man Jason Eck, but the New Mexicans finished #126 in rushing yards allowed per game last year (212.9) and #129 in yards allowed per carry (5.42). Things got better down the stretch, but they let four teams average more than 6.7 yards per carry, including FCS Montana State in the 2024 season opener, who ran for 362 yards on 7.7 yards per attempt. They have 53 new players on the roster, including 16 new names in the defensive two-deep, so this is a new team. But still. They have 245 lb. defensive ends, a 265 lb. defensive tackle, and then a nose tackle who's 6'3", 325 lbs. but played for Texas Southern last year. The top returning tackler is weakside linebacker Randolph Kpai (6'3", 221), a fifth year senior. Fifth year senior edge Gabriel Lopez (6'3", 246) finished fourth on the team with 5 tackles for loss. Even with Michigan's revamped offense, this should be a major advantage for the Wolverines. Advantage: Michigan
Name: Zeke Berry Height: 5’11″ Weight: 196 lbs. High school: Concord (CA) De La Salle Position: Cornerback Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #10 Last year: I ranked Berry #22 and said he would be the starting nickel with 35 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 interceptions (LINK). He started twelve games (7 at nickel, 5 at cornerback) and made 37 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 9 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries, and 1 forced fumble. TTB Rating: 82
Berry went from not playing much at all in 2023 to being a guy Michigan felt they could plug in everywhere in 2024. He started off the season playing nickel and made an interception against Fresno State in his debut. But things in coverage were a little iffy during the first half of the season and he got lost at times.
Then star cornerback Will Johnson suffered an injury and missed the second half of the year. As coaches often say, "Get your best eleven on the field." So rather than putting in a backup cornerback who wasn't ready for prime time, Michigan reshuffled pieces in the defensive backfield and moved Berry to cornerback, moving safety Makari Paige to nickel. I wasn't sure if Berry would be able to pull it off because he can be a little bit stiff in the hips, but his speed and physicality paid off. Michigan's defense improved in the last third of the season as players got used to new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and his deployment of personnel.
Now Berry is a key part of the defense going into 2025. He's solidly in the starting lineup and expected to play corner all season. In fact, last year he was named the team's defensive player of the year, probably largely because of his versatility to play a variety of positions. (I don't think he was a better overall player than Mason Graham, for example.) I think Michigan has more depth at cornerback than some people think because there are talented players on the roster, but there is a general lack of experience outside of the two starters and backup transfer Caleb Anderson.
Name: Andrew Sprague Height: 6'8” Weight: 315 lbs. High school: Kansas City (MO) Rockhurst Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #54 Last year: I ranked Sprague #79 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He played in four games, including one start. TTB Rating: 89
It's not often that any player, let alone a redshirt freshman, shoots up from #79 one year to #11 the next, but that's the case for Sprague.
And it was kind of the case for Sprague during the season last year, too.
In some ways, Michigan seemed super deep at offensive tackle in 2024 with upperclassman who just couldn't get on the field, like Jeff Persi (now at Pitt) and Andrew Gentry (now at BYU). Those two were boxed out by Myles Hinton and then redshirt freshman Evan Link. Unfortunately, most of Michigan's line played poorly in 2024. And by the time the bowl game rolled around, Hinton opted out to prepare for the draft and in stepped Sprague, then a true freshman.
Going into the 2025 season, there's been some chatter that Sprague might be Michigan's best lineman right now, and his right tackle starting spot seemed to have been solidified by the spring, if not before. Sprague hasn't been in a position battle like Link at left tackle or Brady Norton at right guard. He's been The Man, even though he's played fewer college snaps than any of the other projected starters.
It's still awkward to think of #54 starting at right tackle, because I'm used to the tackles at Michigan sporting numbers in the 70s. But unless he has a change of heart to want to be the next great #77 like Jake Long or Jon Jansen or Taylor Lewan, I'm going to have to get used to it. If Michigan's offense makes a big leap this season, we're probably going to see a lot of highlights of the 6'8" #54 caving down his side of the line.
Name: Max Bredeson Height: 6’2″ Weight: 250 lbs. High school: Hartland (WI) Arrowhead Position: Tight end/Fullback Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #44 Last year: I ranked Bredeson #17 and said he would be a part-time starting tight end/fullback (LINK). He started six games and caught 3 passes for 24 yards. TTB Rating: N/A
If you're an off-ball linebacker on Michigan's schedule, there's probably nobody else in the league you would less want to meet face-to-face than Max Bredeson. He's somewhat of a rarity in modern college football: a fullback.
In modern football coaches use RPOs and RROs to control defenders and make space, but in ye olden days, they used fullbacks to create extra gaps. The advantage of lining up in the I-formation has largely been twofold:
You create a good angle for a kickout block.
Wherever the fullback goes, you create an extra gap that requires an additional defender to overlap and/or beat their block to stop the ball carrier.
Of course there are other things coaches can do with fullbacks (hand off to them, fake handoffs to them, use them as pass catchers out of the backfield, etc.), but those are historically the main two.
Bredeson was exploring his post-Michigan options this off-season before deciding to come back for year five in a winged helmet, but he ultimately decided to come back and ply his trade for another season. He was a captain in 2024 and will be again in 2025. His expertise can largely get overlooked when Michigan running backs are doing their thing, but if you want to see some slobberknockers against opposing linebackers, safeties, and defensive ends, keep an eye on Bredeson.
This season the Wolverines appear to have a different version of fullback developing behind Bredeson, and that's former walk-on Jalen Hoffman. Hoffman is less physical and more of a pass catcher, as evidenced by his 88-yard touchdown in the spring game. That gives the Wolverines a variety of skills they can throw out there in different packages, and tight ends coach Steve Casula has talked about having several guys that can go out there and play tight end right now - Bredeson, Hoffman, Marlin Klein, Zack Marshall, and Hogan Hansen.
Name: Jaishawn Barham Height: 6’3″ Weight: 243 lbs. High school: Baltimore (MD) St. Frances Position: Linebacker Class: Senior Jersey number: #1 Last year: I ranked Barham #7 and said he would be a starting middle linebacker with 65 tackles, 4 sacks, and 1 interception (LINK). He started all thirteen games and made 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, and 5 quarterback hurries. TTB Rating: N/A
After playing two seasons at Maryland, Barham transferred to Michigan for the 2024 season and immediately stepped into a starting role. Consistently discussed as perhaps the most imposing defender for the Wolverines, he had some troubles adjusting to Michigan's defense. There were some missed reads and his coverage was questionable, but as the year went along, he and the entire defense improved as they got used to new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. By the time the season ended, that unit was clicking and only allowed 49 points over the final four games, which included three top-11 teams in Indiana, Ohio State, and Alabama.
Barham probably shouldn't be as low as #13, but I couldn't justify ranking him higher in importance because the guys ahead of him in the countdown don't have backups approximating their level. In the case of inside linebacker, Michigan has basically a third starter in Jimmy Rolder and then another guy that everyone raves about in Cole Sullivan. Add in fifth year senior Jaydon Hood and Georgia transfer Troy Bowles, and Michigan has a lot of depth. The talk is that Barham will be used in a variety of ways this year, including rushing off the edge, but Michigan has four solid guys on the edge, too. Barham should be fun to watch in year two wearing a winged helmet.
Another name in the LB class to be aware of is Michigan LB Jaishawn Barham. Has the athleticism and length to not only be an impactful off ball LB, but also a disruptive blizter pic.twitter.com/oYVYSSKCzX
Here's a roundup of a couple former Michigan players. NOTE: I will not regularly post updates about offensive linemen since stats are minimal and just posting PFF grades is kind of boring, but I did this week just to show who's playing where and what their opening day role was.
FORMER PLAYERS
OG Amir Herring (Kansas): Herring started at left guard in a 31-7 win over Fresno State. He's listed as a 6'3", 305 lb. redshirt sophomore.
QB Alex Orji (UNLV): Orji had an up-and-down performance in a 38-31 win over Idaho State. Listed as a co-starter with Virginia transfer Anthony Colandrea, Orji completed 3/3 passes for 37 yards. However, he also fumbled as he was going into the end zone on UNLV's opening drive, turning the ball over to Idaho State for a touchback. However however, he also scored the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard run to make it 37-31 (38-31 after the extra point), with Colandrea playing most of the game following the fumble. Colandrea went 15/21 for 193 yards, 1 touchdown, and 0 interceptions, and he ran 13 times for 93 yards.
Alex Orji fumbles right at the goal line on UNLV’s opening drive and Idaho State recovers in the end zone 😳 pic.twitter.com/1jwrfjjs3R
Name: Giovanni El-Hadi Height: 6’5″ Weight: 315 lbs. High school: Sterling Heights (MI) Stevenson Position: Offensive guard Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #58 Last year: I ranked El-Hadi #14 and said he would be a starting offensive guard and second team all-conference (LINK). He started all thirteen games and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. TTB Rating: 84
Last year I said it seemed like El-Hadi had been around forever, and just now he's entering his fifth year. I also predicted he would be Second Team All-Big Ten, and that was way off, too. So maybe I'm a bit aloof when it comes to El-Hadi.
El-Hadi had mostly played left guard early in his career, but last season he switched to the right side to make way for Northwestern transfer Josh Priebe to start at left guard. Both of them had pretty forgettable seasons. And that was the case for most of the offensive line. It was a pretty ugly year overall except when Kalel Mullings was stepping through tackles in the backfield and turning them into 20+ yard runs.
Now El-Hadi is back at left guard, and my hope is that he plays better as a result. Just like with Evan Link switching back to left tackle (where he played in high school) from the right side (where he played most of last year), I think being comfortable with the footwork, hand placement, eyes, etc. can help an offensive lineman. El-Hadi has been named a captain for the upcoming season, and he pairs with fifth year senior center Greg Crippen for some good experience on the interior. I'm not going to go as far as saying El-Hadi will be an all-conference player in 2025, but he should be improved and the offense overall should look better under new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey.
Name: Jordan Marshall Height: 5’11″ Weight: 216 lbs. High school: Cincinnati (OH) Moeller Position: Running back Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #23 Last year: I ranked Marshall #73 and said he would be a backup running back (LINK). He played in five games and ran 31 times for 120 yards and returned 9 kickoffs for 225 yards. TTB Rating: 88
Marshall was a top-100 recruit in the class of 2024 who started off the season being hyped by running backs coach Tony Alford . . . and then didn't play much running back. A lot of people expected him to be the third back behind Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, but he only carried the ball 31 times on the season, and that includes 23 times in the bowl game against Alabama after Mullings and Edwards were preparing for the NFL draft. Part of the reason Marshall didn't play earlier was because he was working through an injury, and that allowed him to keep his redshirt by only playing in four regular season games (bowl games don't count against redshirts). Maybe that doesn't matter because I would be surprised if he's still around in 2028, but you never know.
For the past few years, Michigan has had upperclassmen to handle running back duties, including Hassan Haskins, Blake Corum, Mullings, and Edwards, but this year is a little different with Marshall the reported leader in the clubhouse and junior Alabama transfer Justice Haynes right there behind him. Haynes was a 5-star recruit and someone who performed well when given opportunities in Tuscaloosa. Maybe this isn't Michigan's best 1-2 combo at running back, but it's a pretty fantastic stack, at least as far as recruiting rankings go; Haynes was #29 overall in 2023 and Marshall was #78 overall in 2024.
Marshall showed a great deal of toughness during his performance against Alabama, dragging tacklers and running through attempts to take him down. He had very good track times in high school, but the ReliaQuest Bowl was more about his between-the-tackles effort than bouncing things outside or breaking big runs. He'll have to continue that tough running behind an offensive line that will probably not be great in 2025, though Michigan fans are hoping it will be improved from last year. I seem some similarities between Marshall and Omarion Hampton, whom new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey helped turn into a first round draft pick this past spring.
Name: T.J. Metcalf Height: 6’1″ Weight: 200 lbs. High school: Birmingham (AL) Pinson Valley Position: Safety Class: Junior Jersey number: #7 Last year: Metcalf played for Arkansas. He started eleven games and made 57 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 3 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, and 7 pass breakups. TTB Rating: N/A
T.J. Metcalf was a free agent transfer from Arkansas who fit in immediately upon arriving in Ann Arbor. A starter at safety in 2024 who played in 24 total games for the Razorbacks, he's a good-sized player who apparently has a football mind. Sam Webb recently stated that Metcalf said he learned Michigan's defense in about a week this spring, and that's good news, because the defense is thought to be rather complicated since it's an NFL system.
His Arkansas career included three interceptions last season, two of which came against former Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne, who decided to move south to throw his interceptions in an Auburn uniform instead.
Now that he's in Ann Arbor, he seems likely to play the nickel position formerly inhabited by Mike Sainristil, Zeke Berry, and Makari Paige. Fifth year senior Rod Moore could be an option at nickel, too, but Moore is coming back from an injury. To start the year, I think it makes the most sense to have Moore at nickel, Jaden Mangham and Brandyn Hillman at safety, and then Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill at cornerback. Sherrone Moore was quoted over the summer as saying Metcalf could be one of the best players not only on the team, but in the Big Ten.
Name: T.J. Guy Height: 6’4″ Weight: 250 lbs. High school: Mansfield (MA) Mansfield Position: Defensive end Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #42 #4 Last year: I ranked Guy #27aand said he would be a backup defensive end with 20 tackles and 3 sacks (LINK). He made 32 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and 6 quarterback hurries. TTB Rating: 65
Guy quietly turned into a pretty destructive pass rusher in 2024, finishing second on the team with 5.5 sacks behind Josaiah Stewart's 8.5. That was perhaps especially impressive because Guy was essentially a backup, starting only three games. I felt like Guy finished the season strongly, making 3 sacks against Indiana and Northwestern and then playing well against Alabama. He has not added any weight since last season, and he can sometimes get pushed around in the run game, but his length and speed make him an asset on the pass rush.
This season Guy should be even more productive with more playing time, and his new #4 jersey (after switching from #42) should look fun getting after the quarterback; it's not often we see pass rushers wearing single-digit jerseys, which may be one reason why I look back so fondly on #2 Shawn Crable. He may get replaced at times in run-stuffing situations, but the Wolverines have a good situation at edge with Cam Brandt and Dominic Nichols serving as backups, some young players with athleticism, and the potential of using linebacker Jaishawn Barham off the edge as well. I'm expecting a good season out of Guy that will end with him being a day two or day three pick in the NFL draft next spring.
Name: Evan Link Height: 6’6″ Weight: 324lbs. High school: Washington (DC) Gonzaga Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #71 Last year: I ranked Link #34 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He started eleven games. TTB Rating: 72
Evan Link had one of the most inauspicious seasons for a Michigan lineman in my memory. And during that season, he had a couple of the worst games I've ever seen for a Michigan lineman. Perhaps the only more frustrating game was the 2023 version against Penn State where right tackle Karsen Barnhart couldn't even sniff the Nittany Lions' edges, so Michigan just ran the ball 30+ times to end the game.
Now take that performance, extend it over most of a season, and you have Evan Link's 2024.
That all sounds a bit negative, but it doesn't reflect my true thoughts about Evan Link. I think Link is a better player than what he showed last season. First of all, he was a left tackle in high school, and the skills to play on the right side are naturally flip-flopped. Of course, players move around on the offensive line all the time, but some guys can pull it off and some guys can't. Second, there were times when Link's feet looked like they were stuck in mud, but I saw in high school the potential to have better feet than we saw in 2024, too.
I'm not saying Link will have a better season in 2025, but I think the potential is there for him to be a solid player. We have seen less athletic players manage okay on Michigan's offensive line. I felt like Link was thinking too much last year, and if he can get to a point where he's playing confidently this fall, we could see a better version. He will be battling to start at left tackle, and there's a possibility he could slide inside to play right guard. The recent injury of freshman Andrew Babalola is disappointing, but I think Link was ahead in the left tackle battle, anyway. Now the competition appears to be Blake Frazier at left tackle, but my money is on Link to start on the left side.
Name: Brandyn Hillman Height: 6’0″ Weight: 200 lbs. High school: Portsmouth (VA) Churchland Position: Safety Class: Junior Jersey number: #6 Last year: I ranked Hillman #49 and said he would be a backup nickel (LINK). He played in twelve games and made 21 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 2 pass breakups. TTB Rating: 83
Hillman seemed to slide into some serious time last season after playing a minor role in 2023, albeit burning his redshirt during the national championship season. He played over 300 snaps in 2024 and turned into a ferocious hitter, perhaps Michigan's most exciting hitter at safety since Ernest Shazor. A former high school quarterback - a trait I love in defensive players - he should move into an even more prominent role in 2025 now that Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson have moved on.
Michigan has a deep safety group, and Hillman should be in a battle with the likes of Jaden Mangham, T.J. Metcalf, and Rod Moore to start. Moore's health is a question mark (thus his placement at #20 in the countdown), and Metcalf seems a likely pick for the nickel spot. That could leave the trio of Hillman, Mangham, and Moore playing safety - keeping a third starter-level player available to be insurance for Moore - and Metcalf as a chess piece who can be moved around a little bit.
Bryce Underwood and Mineral (VA) Louisa RB Savion Hiter (image via X)
Mineral (VA) Louisa running back Savion Hiter committed to Michigan on Tuesday morning. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, and others.
Hiter is listed at 5'11" and 200 lbs. As a junior in 2024, he ran 156 times for 1,698 yards (10.8 yards/carry) and 26 touchdowns. He also made 56 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 interception on defense and returned 3 kickoffs for touchdowns.
Name: Rod Moore Height: 6’0″ Weight: 198 lbs. High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont Position: Safety Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #19 Last year: I did not rank Moore. He missed the season with a knee injury. TTB Rating: 72
Rod Moore has been a mainstay in Michigan's lineup since 2021. He has been a captain and has been named All-Big Ten in the past. Altogether, he has 141 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 6 interceptions, and 7 pass breakups in his career.
So why is he ranked at #20?
Well, unfortunately, Moore was bitten by the injury bug in the spring of 2024 and has really struggled to recover since then. He missed the 2024 season and has had multiple setbacks, causing him to miss spring practices this year, too. His status for 2025 is an unknown at this point, and even if he plays, will he be back to his previous form?
Other players are saying he's like another coach on the field, but will he even be on the field this fall? And how much, if at all?
Due to the uncertainty, I'm ranking him at #20. With the numerous setbacks, I'm guessing he will not be available for the full season and will probably be a step slower than he used to be. I'm hoping that's not the case, but Michigan does have a pretty deep safety group with Brandyn Hillman, Jaden Mangham, T.J. Metcalf, and several others available to step in if needed.
Name: Justice Haynes Height: 5'11″ Weight: 210 lbs. High school: Buford (GA) Buford Position: Running back Class: Junior Jersey number: #22 Last year: Haynes played for Alabama. He started six games and ran 79 times for 448 yards and 7 touchdowns; he also caught 17 passes for 99 yards. TTB Rating: N/A
A second straight transfer in the countdown, Haynes started half the games last year for the Alabama Crimson Tide and would have played against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl if not for entering the transfer portal. Despite starting six games, his only 100+ yard performance came against Western Kentucky in the season opener when he ran 4 times for 102 yards and 1 score, including an 85-yard touchdown. Otherwise, his rushing output never topped 79 yards. He did reel off four straight games with a touchdown score, including three against ranked teams. So while the overall totals weren't great, there was some steady production. (Quarterback Jalen Milroe and running back Jam Miller led the team with 168 and 145 rushing attempts, respectively.)
With Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards off to the NFL, Michigan needed someone else to step in at running back. Cole Cabana transferred to Western Michigan after the season, and Ben Hall transferred to North Carolina after spending the spring trying to duke it out with Haynes for a role in the 1-2 combo with Jordan Marshall. Haynes and Marshall seem like very similar running backs, guys who have some power, some speed, and some vision, and Michigan's offense should roll smoothly with those two guys in the backfield. But after Haynes, there is a major question mark, because the remaining backs are totally unproven at the FBS level. Massachusetts transfer C.J. Hester already re-entered the transfer portal, and Princeton transfer John Volker will fight with Micah Ka'apana and a couple freshmen for the #3 job. That means Marshall and Haynes are both pretty valuable commodities.
Over the last five full seasons (not counting the 2020 COVID season), Michigan's #2 running back has never had fewer than 119 carries and has averaged about 130 carries per year. If that trickles over into 2025, Haynes should be touching the ball about 135-140 times once you factor in a few receptions. Haynes has a chance to be an integral part of an offense that intends to beat up opposing defenses.
Name: Tre Williams Height: 6’2″ Weight: 320 lbs. High school: Washington (DC) St. John's Position: Defensive tackle Class: Sixth year senior Jersey number: #0 Last year: Williams played for Clemson. He started three games and made 14 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 2 pass breakups over fourteen contests. TTB Rating: N/A
Williams comes to Michigan from Clemson, and I'm going out on a little bit of a limb ranking him up here at #22 but there's a reason. Williams's performance in Death Valley has not been outstanding over the years, but when I watch the film, I see a guy that I think has some good potential. He's a little on the short side and can get swallowed up by offensive linemen once in a while, but his quickness is intriguing and I think he's the defensive tackle (outside of Rayshaun Benny) most likely to create a pass rush. That would be a big deal for a defensive tackle group that lost Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.
When I watched Williams at Clemson, I really think there are a couple small changes he can make to improve, and they mostly have to do with leverage and hand placement. If defensive line coach Lou Esposito can get Williams to play a little bit lower "with his hands above his eyeballs," I think he's going to generate some push on the interior that will make it very difficult for opposing quarterbacks to escape since they'll be hemmed in by some quality pass rushers on the edge. Alabama transfer Damon Payne may be a better run stopper, but Williams has the potential to get in the backfield and make some splashier plays.
Name: Greg Tarr Height: 6’2″ Weight: 220 lbs. High school: Washington (MI) Romeo Position: Long snapper Class: Sixth year senior Jersey number: #45 Last year: I ranked Tarr #51 and said he would be a backup long snapper (LINK). He played in two games. TTB Rating: N/A
For two seasons in a row, I can basically write the same thing:
Last year I predicted Tarr to be the backup long snapper, and he played in two games.
Rinse, wash, repeat.
It seems like Tarr has been in Ann Arbor forever, and in fact, his career started in 2020.
That's so far in the past that a guy named Donald Trump was president of the United States when Tarr first set foot on campus.
Crazy, right?
What in the name of Grover Cleveland is going on here?!?!?!
Anyway, Tarr stepped in for an injured Will Wagner all the way back in 2022 and started nine games. He did a mighty fine job, and yet he has barely played the past two years.
It seems the 2025 season is everything Tarr has been waiting for since Cade McNamara yoinked the starting quarterback job from Joe Milton.
I assume Tarr is still good, because he was good and also Michigan's long snappers have been good. As others have said for a long time, the only time you really hear a long snapper's name is when something goes wrong, so let this be the last time you hear Tarr's name until the 6th round of the NFL Draft in 2026.
Name: Fredrick Moore Height: 6’1″ Weight: 191 lbs. High school: Saint Louis (MO) Cardinal Ritter Position: Wide receiver Class: Junior Jersey number: #3 Last year: I ranked Moore #26 and said he would be a backup wide receiver and special teamer (LINK). He started three games and made 11 catches for 128 yards and 1 touchdown, and he rushed 5 times for 28 yards. TTB Rating: 68
Last year I thought Moore would break out a little bit as a potential big-play receiver and returner.
It didn't happen.
On the bright side for him, the quarterback play and passing game in general did not generate big plays whatsoever. Michigan was one of the worst passing offenses in the country, and nobody was supported. Moore was third among wide receivers with 11 catches (behind Semaj Morgan's 27 and Tyler Morris's 23), and he was not used as a kickoff returner or punt returner. There's still a potential breakout here if Michigan can put together a cogent passing game, and it looks like there will be a step up from last year, considering Michigan now has two or three quarterbacks who are better than last year's starter, Davis Warren.
On the negative side, Michigan will still probably rely heavily on the run and tight ends. Everyone expects Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley to be the top receiver, so the rest of the wideouts will be battling for the #2 role. Moore has as good of a shot as anyone to seize that role, battling the likes of Morgan, Peyton O'Leary, Andrew Marsh, Kendrick Bell, and others. My hope is that McCulley becomes a downfield threat with his size, leaving room for guys like Moore and Morgan to work underneath and then make things happen with their speed. My (fake) money is on Moore to be the starter opposite McCulley.
Marion (MA) Tabor Academy quarterback Peter Bourque, a 2027 prospect, committed to Michigan on Monday morning. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Penn State, Texas A&M, and numerous others.
Bourque is listed at 6'4", 190 lbs. He threw for 1,737 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions as a sophomore and also ran for 317 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Name: Nathan Efobi Height: 6’3″ Weight: 312 lbs. High school: Cumming (GA) South Forsyth Position: Offensive guard Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #55 Last year: I ranked Efobi #74 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played in six games. TTB Rating: 68
Last year I mentioned that Efobi would have to battle with Connor Jones, Dominick Giudice, and Raheem Anderson II for a backup role on Michigan's offensive line. He battled, and . . . well, I can't say he won the battle.
But he may have won the war.
Giudice and Anderson have since transferred, and Connor Jones appears to be an afterthought in the pecking order. Meanwhile, Efobi is battling for a starting right guard spot in fall camp, and the general takeaway seems to be that he's the favorite to start.
Efobi is up to a listed 312 lbs. after being listed at 285 in last season's countdown, so he's put on a good amount of weight. I don't know what to expect from him other than the murmurs coming out of Schembechler Hall, but his starting role does seem to be the most tenuous. While there's also a battle at left tackle between Evan Link, Blake Frazier, and Andrew Babalola, there seems to be the belief that Link could start at right guard if he loses the left tackle battle, and there's also the presence of Ferris State transfer Lawrence Hattar, a Division II All-American. So I have Efobi as the lowest ranked starter in the countdown, but there's some positive buzz for him.
Name: Damon Payne Height: 6'4” Weight: 311 lbs. High school: Belleville (MI) Belleville Position: Nose tackle Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #44 Last year: Payne was a starting defensive tackle at Alabama. He made 14 tackles for loss and 1 sack. TTB Rating: N/A
Payne was a 5-star, the #7 defensive lineman, and #24 overall in the class of 2021. Instead of signing with Michigan - during a team when Belleville-Michigan relations were strained - he ended up signing with Nick Saban's Alabama. He went down to Tuscaloosa and, you know, didn't do a whole lot. Altogether, he made 30 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks during four years. Known as a good run stopper, he didn't offer much when it comes to penetrating the backfield or chasing plays down.
Michigan snagged Payne in the transfer portal, and he returns close to home to play in front of friends and family. The Wolverines have a ton of depth at defensive tackle this season, depth that includes at least six players who are "playable" in: Payne, Rayshaun Benny, Tre Williams, Trey Pierce, Ike Iwunnah, and Enow Etta. I see Payne as a third starter on the inside, along with Benny and Williams. Williams has more explosiveness, while Payne seems like more of a space eater who is going to be very difficult to run against. Add in the fact that Michigan can roll six-deep on the interior, and these guys should be very good as they stay fresh throughout the game and throughout the season. I don't expect Payne to break out when it comes to putting up big numbers, but he should be a part of a very good defensive line.
Name: Mikey Keene Height: 5'11” Weight: 200 lbs. High school: Chandler (AZ) Chandler Position: Quarterback Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #7 Last year: Keene was the starting quarterback at Fresno State. He completed 277/393 passes (70.5%) for 2,892 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. TTB Rating: N/A
Sherrone Moore is like Galactus, and floating through space and time, he decided to send out the Silver Surfer - in this case, Chip Lindsey - to scout resources to consume to make himself better. The Silver Surfer zeroed in on Mikey Keene from Fresno State, and here we are:
With one of the most highly touted recruits in history, Galactus - I mean, Sherrone Moore - was never going to be able to bring in a high-profile player who wanted to play right now because Bryce Underwood is waiting in the wings to play, probably sooner rather than later. So Moore and Lindsey had to look a rung down for a guy who might want a step up in competition but had already sort of maxed himself out in a lower conference.
Keene has been a starter at two different schools, UCF and Fresno State. Overall, he has amassed 8245 passing yards, 65 passing touchdowns, and 28 interceptions, while completing 67.8% of his passes. He's an accurate thrower who's obviously limited when it comes to size, strength, and athleticism. But he's a veteran who has played 39 games and could be a perfect mentor for Underwood, pushing him and offering advice while also understanding he stepped into a situation where he's not going to be expected to be the savior of a program.
I expect Underwood to be the starting quarterback by the end of the season, if not the beginning. However, backup quarterbacks play an important role. It's rare to see a quarterback go through a season completely unscathed, if only for a half of a game or a game here or there. Keene transferred to Michigan over the winter but was unable to participate in spring practices because of an injury. However, he was available for meetings and re-learning some of the things that Lindsey taught him back when they were together at UCF. As long as Keene stays healthy for the year, he should provide a nice safety net for the team.
Name: Semaj Morgan Height: 5’10” Weight: 174 lbs. High school: West Bloomfield (MI) West Bloomfield Position: Wide receiver Class: Junior Jersey number: #0 Last year: I ranked Morgan #16 and said he would be a starting wide receiver (LINK). He started four games and made 27 catches for 139 yards and 1 touchdown, ran 6 times for 32 yards, and returned 9 punts for 100 yards. TTB Rating: 76
After a breakout freshman season in 2023, I thought Semaj Morgan would have a fun 2024. He was a bit of a jack-of-all trades who could catch, run, and return punts.
And then he did absolutely nothing in 2024.
You want a fun statistic? Out of 177 players in Michigan history with 19 catches or more in a season, Semaj Morgan's 5.1 yards per catch is tied for the lowest . . . and the person tied with him was running back Anthony Thomas (33 catches, 168 yards in 1999).
Want to know what's arguably worse? The only player with 17 catches or more in a season who had a lower yards per catch than Morgan and Thomas's 5.1 was the 2024 version of Donovan Edwards (18 catches, 83 yards).
In other words, the passing game in 2024 was historically bad. Not that you didn't already know that.
On the plus side, I think Morgan is better than that. He was better in high school and he was better as a freshman. I'm going to chalk up the pitiful 2024 campaign to poor quarterbacking and poor offensive coordinator-ing, and both of those positions have been upgraded going into 2025. I think offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey will have a better idea of how to use Morgan, and I think Bryce Underwood/Mikey Keene will be able to get him the ball in more advantageous ways.
Prediction: Part-time starting wide receiver; 30 catches for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns
Name: Cameron Brandt Height: 6’4″ Weight: 270 lbs. High school: Chatsworth (CA) Sierra Canyon Position: Defensive end Class: Junior Jersey number: #91 Last year: I ranked Brandt #40 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He made 13 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass breakups. TTB Rating: 82
Brandt had a bit of a coming out party in 2024, especially during the second half of the season. After a pretty boring freshman season (aside from, you know, winning a national championship), he ascended into the two-deep during his sophomore year and turned it on as the year went along, making his first career sack against Michigan State, snagging another one against Indiana, and finishing up with 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama.
The only edge Michigan lost ahead of Brandt was Josaiah Stewart, so Brandt remains firmly entrenched on the second unit behind Derrick Moore and T.J. Guy. Despite the loss of Stewart, I expect Michigan's edge rushers as a whole to be better in 2025. Michigan has three upperclassmen in Brandt, Guy, and Moore, and there are several talented young players, along with inside linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who will reportedly come off the edge a little bit more this season. Brandt is a good-sized body at 265 lbs. who's not the biggest or the quickest, but his combination of athleticism and agility should make him tough to handle on a consistent basis. I think he'll basically look like a third starter when he comes into the game.
NOTE: Transfer punter Luke Bauer was ranked #31 but is not on the fall roster, so I skipped that spot. It looks like Hudson Hollenbeck will be the most likely answer at punter.
Name: Lawrence Hattar Height: 6’5” Weight: 335 lbs. High school: Livonia (MI) Churchill Position: Offensive guard Class: Fifth year senior Jersey number: #78 Last year: Hattar played at Ferris State. He started eleven games and was a Division II All-American. TTB Rating: N/A
Hattar came out of an in-state high school in 2021 and has spent the past four seasons playing at Ferris State. He started twenty games in that time and was part of a national championship team . . . three times. In fact, the only year he didn't win one was when Michigan won theirs in 2023, so technically Hattar will have played for a program that has won a national title the past four years. Is that a modern-day football record?
Michigan recruited Hattar to potentially step in at offensive guard and help solidify an offensive line that wasn't very good last year. Hattar was a Division II All-American, but playing at the FBS level is two steps up from there. Will he be able to immediately upgrade the offensive line? Will he be able to start in year one at a place like Michigan? The size is a good thing (6'5", 335 lbs.), but the game in the Big Ten moves much faster and the defensive tackles are stronger and more athletic. Even Myles Hinton struggled some when he first came from Stanford and he was a 5-star recruit with excellent size, so there are bound to be some growing pains. I think Hattar will be a backup guard to start the season but could potentially challenge to start halfway through the year.
Name: Dominic Nichols Height: 6’5” Weight: 255 lbs. High school: Frederick (MD) Oakdale Position: Defensive end Class: Redshirt freshman Jersey number: #33 Last year: I ranked Nichols #71 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He played in five games and made 3 tackles with 1 forced fumble. TTB Rating: 79
Nichols fell in the middle range of the countdown last season, lodged between "solid contributor" and "redshirt" status. He played in four regular season games, including a couple competitive ones, and the bowl game against Alabama; because bowl games don't count against the redshirt limit, he was able to preserve an extra year of eligibility. He looked like he belonged on the field, and the coaching staff is very high on him going into the 2025 season.
I expected Nichols to be in the 260-270 range by the time fall rolled around, so I'm a little surprised he's only up to 255 pounds this season after being 251 last year. But it appears he will be in the second group of edges, along with Cam Brandt. It should be a bit of a breakout year for Nichols, and I expect him to play well. Starters T.J. Guy and Derrick Moore will be gone in 2026, and Nichols has a chance to stake his claim for the mantle of pass rush extraordinaire going into his third season.
Name: Jaden Mangham Height: 6’2″ Weight: 195 lbs. High school: Birmingham (MI) Groves Position: Safety Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #3 Last year: I ranked Mangham #42 and said he would be a backup safety (LINK). He played in one game. TTB Rating: N/A
Mangham was a starter at Michigan State, and I expected him to play a key backup role in 2024. Instead, he played in one game on special teams and then disappeared for the rest of the year. Michigan did have good options at safety and Mangham was able to preserve a redshirt, giving him two remaining years. He was reportedly injured, which explains his disappearance.
Now Mangham should be a key backup for real. Both Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson departed after last season, and while the coaching staff brought in defensive back transfers, they look more likely to contribute at nickel and corner. Mangham could even be a starter, depending on the uncertain health of Rod Moore. I have Moore and Brandyn Hillman penciled in as starters at safety, but if Moore does start, I think the coaches will limit the number of snaps he gets.
