2025 Season Countdown: #14 Giovanni El-Hadi

 

Giovanni El-Hadi (image via Wolverines Wire)

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.

Prediction: Starting left guard

2025 Season Countdown: #15 Jordan Marshall

 

Jordan Marshall (image via On3)

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.

Prediction: Starting running back; 220 carries, 1100 yards, 9 touchdowns

2025 Season Countdown: #16 T.J. Metcalf

 

T.J. Metcalf (image via X)

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.

Prediction: Starting nickel; 60 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions

2025 Season Countdown: #17 T.J. Guy

 

T.J. Guy

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.

Prediction: Starting defensive end; 40 tackles, 8 sacks

2025 Season Countdown: #18 Evan Link

 

Evan Link

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.

Prediction: Starting left tackle

2025 Season Countdown: #19 Brandyn Hillman

 

Brandyn Hillman (#6, image via 247 Sports)

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.

Prediction: Starting safety

Savion Hiter, Wolverine

 

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.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 89 grade, #2 RB, #24 overall
On3: 5-star, #1 RB, #11 overall
247 Sports: 5-star, 98 grade, #1 RB, #17 overall

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Season Countdown: #20 Rod Moore

 

Rod Moore (image via MGoBlue)

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.

Prediction: Starting safety (if healthy)

2025 Season Countdown: #21 Justice Haynes

 

Justice Haynes (image via On3)

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.

Prediction: Backup running back

2025 Season Countdown: #22 Tre Williams

 

Tre Williams (image via 247 Sports)

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.

Prediction: Starting defensive tackle

2025 Season Countdown: #23 Greg Tarr

 

Greg Tarr (image via MGoBlue)

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.

Prediction: Starting long snapper

2025 Season Countdown: #24 Fredrick Moore

 

Fredrick Moore (image via MGoBlue)

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.

Prediction: Starting wide receiver; 25 catches, 325 yards, 3 touchdowns

Peter Bourque, Wolverine

 

Peter Bourque (image via 247 Sports)

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.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #3 pocket QB, #86 overall
On3: 4-star, #7 QB, #86 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #8 QB, #88 overall

Hit the jump for more.

2025 Season Countdown: #25 Nate Efobi

 

Nate Efobi (#55, image via 247 Sports)

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.

Prediction: Starting right guard

2025 Season Countdown: #26 Damon Payne

 

Damon Payne (image via Chloe Miller/MLive)

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.

Prediction: Part-time starting nose tackle

2025 Season Countdown: #27 Mikey Keene

 

Mikey Keene (image via On3)

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.

Prediction: Backup quarterback

2025 Season Countdown: #28 Semaj Morgan

 

Semaj Morgan (image via USA Today)

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

2025 Season Countdown: #29 Cameron Brandt

 

Cameron Brandt (image via MGoBlue)

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.

Prediction: Backup defensive end

2025 Season Countdown: #30 Lawrence Hattar

 

Lawrence Hattar (image via MGoBlog)

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.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard

2025 Season Countdown: #32 Dominic Nichols

 

Dominic Nichols (image via MLive)

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.

Prediction: Backup defensive end