The following depth chart is intended to show what players exist at what positions, which also shows the needs from the transfer portal and perhaps the February signing day for the 2026 class.
- QB Jadyn Davis (transfer to East Tennessee State)
- QB Jake Garcia (transfer portal)
- QB Mikey Keene (transfer to Arizona State)
- QB Davis Warren (transfer to Stanford)
- RB Justice Haynes (transfer to Georgia Tech)
- RB C.J. Hester (transfer portal)
- RB Jasper Parker (transfer to Arkansas)
- RB John Volker (graduation)
- WR C.J. Charleston (graduation)
- WR Donaven McCulley (graduation)
- WR Fredrick Moore (transfer to Michigan State)
- WR Semaj Morgan (transfer to UCLA)
- WR Peyton O'Leary (transfer portal)
- WR Anthony Simpson (transfer portal)
- TE Max Bredeson (graduation)
- TE Marlin Klein (NFL draft)
- TE Brady Prieskorn (transfer to Ole Miss)
- OL Greg Crippen (graduation)
- OL Giovanni El-Hadi (graduation)
- OL Ty Haywood (transfer to Alabama)
- OL Connor Jones (transfer to Georgia State)
- OL Ben Roebuck (transfer to Western Michigan)
- OL Kaden Strayhorn (transfer to Alabama)
- EDGE Devon Baxter (transfer to Virginia)
- EDGE T.J. Guy (graduation)
- EDGE Tyler McLaurin (graduation)
- EDGE Derrick Moore (graduation)
- DT Rayshaun Benny (graduation)
- DT Ike Iwunnah (graduation)
- DT Damon Payne (graduation)
- DT Tre Williams (graduation)
- LB Jaishawn Barham (graduation)
- LB Ernest Hausmann (graduation/medical retirement))
- LB Jaydon Hood (transfer to Georgia State)
- LB Jimmy Rolder (NFL draft)
- LB Cole Sullivan (transfer to Oklahoma)
- DB Caleb Anderson (graduation)
- DB Elijah Dotson (transfer to Missouri)
- DB Brandyn Hillman (transfer to Virginia)
- DB Jaden Mangham (transfer to Purdue)
- DB Tevis Metcalf (transfer to Tennessee)
- DB T.J. Metcalf (transfer to Tennessee)
- DB Jayden Sanders (transfer to Notre Dame)
- K Beckham Sunderland (transfer to Minnesota)
- K Dominic Zvada (graduation)
- LS Evan Boutorwick (transfer to Northwestern)
It assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in the fall of 2026, which is obviously not true.
Hit the jump for the depth chart.
QB: Bryce Underwood (So.), Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi (RS Sr.), Colin Hurley (RS So.), Chase Herbstreit (RS Fr.), QB Brady Smigiel (Fr.), Tommy Carr (Fr.)
RB: Jordan Marshall (Jr.), Bryson Kuzdzal (RS So.), Micah Ka'apana (RS So.), Donovan Johnson (RS Fr.), Savion Hiter (Fr.), Jonathan Brown (Fr.)
WR1: Andrew Marsh (So.), Jacob Washington (So.), Travis Johnson (Fr.), Salesi Moa (Fr.)
WR2: Jaime Ffrench (So.), Channing Goodwin (RS So.), Jamar Browder (So.)
WR3: J.J. Buchanan (So.), Kendrick Bell (RS Jr.), I'Marion Stewart (RS So.), Jaylen Pile (Fr.)
TE: Hogan Hansen (Jr.), Deakon Tonielli (RS Jr.), Jalen Hoffman (RS Jr.), Zack Marshall (RS Jr.), Eli Owens (RS Fr.), Mason Bonner (Fr.)
LT: Andrew Babalola (RS Fr.), Malakai Lee (Fr.)
LG: Blake Frazier (RS So.), Lawrence Hattar (RS Sr.), Houston Ka'aha'aina-Torres (RS Fr.), Luke Hamilton (RS So.)
C: Jake Guarnera (RS So.), Brady Norton (RS Jr.), Nathan Efobi (RS Jr.), Adrian Hamilton (Fr.)
RG: Evan Link (RS Jr.), Avery Gach (RS Fr.), Brooks Bahr (RS Jr.)
RT: Andrew Sprague (RS So.), Marky Walbridge (Fr.), Tommy Fraumann (Fr.)
EDGE: Dominic Nichols (RS So.), Nate Marshall (So.), McHale Blade (Fr.)
DT: Enow Etta (Jr.), Jonah Lea'ea (RS Jr.), Benny Patterson (So.), Ted Hammond (RS So.), Bobby Kanka (RS Fr.), Titan Davis (Fr.), Alister Vallejo (Fr.)
NT: Trey Pierce (Sr.), Deyvid Palepale (RS So.), Manuel Beigel (RS So.), Travis Moten (RS Fr.)
Rush LB: John Henry Daley (RS Jr.), Cameron Brandt (Sr.), Lugard Edokpayi (RS So.), Julius Holly (RS Fr.), Carter Meadows (Fr.), Tariq Boney (Fr.)
MIKE: Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (So.), Aden Reeder (Fr.), Christian Pierce (So.), Kaden Catchings (Fr.)
WILL: Troy Bowles (RS Jr.), Nate Staehling (RS Sr.), Max Alford (RS So.), Chase Taylor (So.), Zach Ludwig (RS So.), Markel Dabney (Fr.)
CB: Jyaire Hill (RS Jr.), Jo'Ziah Edmond (Jr.), Jeremiah Lowe (RS So.)
CB: Zeke Berry (RS Sr.), Shamari Earls (So.), Jamarion Vincent (Fr.)
Ni: Snowden Smith (Sr.), Jordan Young (So.)
FS: Rod Moore (6th), Mason Curtis (Jr.), Jordan Deck (Fr.), Ernest Nunley (Fr.)
SS: Chris Bracy (RS Jr.), Jacob Oden (Jr.), Kainoa Winston (RS Fr.)
K: Trey Butkowski (So.)
P: Cam Brown (So.), Hudson Hollenbeck (RS Jr.)
LS: Nico Crawford (RS Sr.), Trent Middleton (RS Jr.), Gavin Magorien (So.)
I'm a little surprised you have Hiter fifth in the RB depth, unless you are just slotting true freshmen at the bottom as a general policy. Unless his 5-star rating is a mirage, I suspect we'll seem him rise to #2 in depth pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteAll in all, not a bad roster, given everything else. This could be a pretty good team, if the new coaches can clean up some of the issues seen in 2025.
I generally just put freshmen at the bottom of the depth chart, because there are so many unknowns. I would expect Hiter to be higher, too. The incoming transfers are a different story, because obviously someone like Smith Snowden or John Henry Daley is only coming in because they're basically guaranteed a starting spot or maybe a chance to compete for the #1 spot.
DeleteThunder, as you look over this whole roster and weigh the talent by position, how would you rank our position groups? Which is relatively the strongest, which is relatively the weakest? Further, which position group do you think has the most potential variability; that is, could be great or could be not-so-great, depending on how well a few players step up in 2026?
ReplyDeleteHmmm...well, I think the question of health is probably my biggest question. Not that anyone can predict that, but there are a couple positions where an injury or two could sink the whole group. If I had to rank the position groups from strongest to weakest, it would probably go...
Delete1. DB
2. OL
3. RB
4. WR
5. DE
6. QB
7. TE
8. DT
9. LB
I think the OL is probably the biggest projection, because it inserts Babalola, moves Frazier, moves Guarnera, moves Link, etc. A couple seniors are gone (Crippen, El-Hadi). There are a lot of moving parts, but they're very talented overall. I'm disappointed that Haywood left, because I thought he was going to be very good before all is said and done.
I think the LB position stinks. It went from a strength to a giant weakness, and I think that's going to be hard to cover up. Barham, Hausmann, Sullivan, and Rolder to...Bowles, Staehling, etc. is a big step down. I'm hoping they somehow get Rolder to come back, kind of like what happened with Quentin Johnson a couple seasons ago.
Thanks! Now my question is whether it's possible to effectively scheme around a weaker LB corp. I'm guessing 'yes,' but I'm also guessing there's a limit to how far that can be stretched.
DeleteI'm a little surprised Rolder is exploring the NFL. He's good, but I just don't sense he's NFL-caliber, unless I'm missing something. If he 'declares' for the NFL draft, is that it ... he can't come back? Or have the rules changed so that they can put a toe in the water, but come back if there are no takers?
Oof, we may be charmin soft in the middle
DeleteHopefully coaching can make a 2o11/2o21 leap
@ Anonymous 10:01 a.m.
DeleteUnfortunately, no, I don't think it's really possible to scheme around a weak LB corps. Sometimes you can get away with it if you have a really good defensive line, but that's not really scheming around it. And I don't think Michigan's defensive line is going to be great in 2026. So I think the ceiling for this team isn't very high this year.
Players who declare for the draft can come back these days. That used to not be a thing, but it's happened a couple times. Quentin Johnson did it two seasons ago, and Shemar Stewart almost did it for Texas A&M in 2025 even after getting drafted by the Bengals. Plus it's happening in basketball, too, where former draft picks are going back to play in college. Rolder was injured a lot early in his career and even had a lingering shoulder issue this past season, and I think he just wants to get the clock rolling on a potential NFL career.
Could try going back to Saint Bo's idea ... slant on every snap.
DeleteStrongly agree with position group rankings.
DeleteI might debate OL vs DB rankings but both are clearly the strengths of the team, IMO. I see Babalola as more of a luxury option / 6th man than a starter, so I think there will be continuity there which is why I am inclined to like OL most of all. We'll see though. Regardless, both positions have proven guys, talent, and depth. DB I think could swing up to #1 if Moore is back to playing at an all conference level.
I think LB will be alright but definitely the most questions there. I think the floor is pretty decent but this is not Barrett/Colson level talent and experience. Staehlig was a big add and I think folks are sleeping on Bowles a bit, he's at the point of his career where opportunity and development could align real nicely.
DT is the most worrisome spot but we can hope for development from Pierce, Etta, etc. There's a world where it's solid but also a world where a couple guys are dinged and this group drags down the entire team.
Do we know Babalola is healthy by the spring and/or season?
ReplyDeleteI don't know Babalola's current status, but he got injured in August, so I imagine he'll be full go at least by the season. He might be limited a bit this spring, though.
DeleteBiggest surprise here to me is the TE depth chart. I have been assuming Marshall was the clear TE1 since Hansen isn't yet much of a blocker and Tonielli has been pretty meh and limited role. New staff coming in, granted, but Marshall had around 250 snaps to Tonielli's 80 last year. Hansen had almost as many despite spending half the year injured. I expect snaps to be Marshall, Hansen, Hoffman then Tonielli. But new staff could see things different!
ReplyDeleteOL is going to be a pretty interesting competition. I think Guarnera, Link, Sprague are locks and probably Frazier too. We'll see if both Link and Frazier get moved inside to make way for Babalola. I'm a little skeptical of this just because it would make OT depth pretty dodgy and force a real sudden move if a starter gets hurt. For now I think Efobi and Norton will probably battle it out for a starting spot unless Babalola is just lights out in fall camp. Given Babalola missed last year that would be something. I think it's more likely they build him up over the course of the season as TE 6. I could see Efobi or Norton moving inside to OC but not both, especially with Guarnera locking down the starting spot for (hopefully) the next couple years.
Glad to see Hattar back too. I hadn't heard that. Nice depth inside.
Freshman are generally hard to predict but the variance does vary between positions. I think Hiter is a near lock to be in the top 3 if not top 2. Kuzdal is fine but he got elevated due to injuries, mostly.
Edge: Nicols vs Brandt vs Marshall should be fun to see how that competition plays out. Brandt is the sure thing, solid vet, responsible against the run. Marshall is younger with more pass rush upside. Nichols a bit in between. He got lost a bit last year but the new coaches hopefully can pull more out of him.
LB: I am guessing Stahling starts with Bowles. The young guys (NOB, Taylor) are still real young. I would not be surprised if Moa has a rotational role also.
Supposedly Tatum will be another option in the safety room, but we've also seen HS RBs move back from defense relatively quickly before (Mullings, Haskins) and seeming to benefit from the lessons learned and physicality of playing D. This might be a development tool.
I have my own doubts about Babalola next year
Delete1) he was a highly touted but very raw prospect who hasn’t played since 2o24, and never at this level
2) he will have missed a year of college strength development. That’s a lifetime for a 19y/o
3) it was a grim injury, and one that should take until Fall to get anywhere close to 1oo% at his size
Meanwhile, Sprague, Frazier and even Link have a lot more reps & live game time
Link has some healing too, and Frazier has some weight to pack on. Both have a big head start on Babaloa though
I’d swap Efobi (who improved to mostly solid) & Norton (who hasn’t been any good, at all)
DeleteThere should be a good competition there between Efobi and Norton. New coaching staff is a new opportunity for both -- a fresh set of eyes and also how they improve with different coaching emphasis and guidance.
Delete" I don't think Michigan's defensive line is going to be great in 2026. So I think the ceiling for this team isn't very high this year."
ReplyDeleteThis sentence really boils down where I'm at. When you look at teams like Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon they are just bringing back talent and experience on another level than Michigan right now. We just don't have the star power to match unless Bryce makes a massive leap forward. The pieces are there for Bryce to make that jump with the OL being a strength, WR room being infused with talent, and a new coaching staff. But he is a long way off from being elite , where you expect Sayin, Moore, and Hoover to be.
The defense should be OK but won't be dominating. The variance, the ability to pull off an upset in Eugene, Columbus, or defeating the national champs, will come with the offense IMO.
Given the assumed weakness in the LB corp, if you're an opposing offensive coordinator, what's your game plan against Michigan?
ReplyDeleteBabalola - the talent is there and Michigan worked hard (i.e., paid much) to retain him. He could step in and start but the youth, injury, and inexperience are real concerns. Technique wise he's going to be a freshman. If he is ready to beat out guys like Frazier and Norton, well that's a nice problem to have. My suspicion is we won't be there yet, at least not in September.
ReplyDeleteMy best guess on OL depth:
LT: Frazier (Jr) -- Babalola (So), Lee (Fr.)
RT: Sprague (Jr) -- Walbridge (Fr), Fraumann (Fr)
LG: Link (Sr) -- Hattar (5th), L. Hamilton (Jr), Bahr (Sr)
RG: Norton (Sr) -- Efobi (Sr), Gach (So)
C: Guarnera (Jr) -- Ka'aha'aina-Torres (So), A. Hamiton (Fr)
I am guessing Link is the first to get moved inside just because of his struggles in pass pro. He's also further along in his career so more timely. Frazier was undersized but looked solid, so he's a good target for Babalola to try to pass over.
As Thunder has it listed the only backup OTs you have are freshman which feels problematic. You can always move a guy back like Link/Norton back from OG but then you're probably disrupting your starting lineup and affecting two positions rather than one if an injury strikes.
Ideally, I don't want any freshman in the 2-deep. Drop them out and it looks like this:
LT: Frazier (Jr) -- Babalola (So)
RT: Sprague (Jr) --
LG: Link (Sr) -- Hattar (5th), L. Hamilton (Jr), Bahr (Sr)
RG: Norton (Sr) -- Efobi (Sr), Gach (So)
C: Guarnera (Jr) -- Ka'aha'aina-Torres (So)
If Babalola is your 3rd OT and Efobi is your 3rd OG, you're in great shape I think.
Love the talent and depth!
I feel real good about the OL for 2026. Looking ahead to 2027, with nobody on the current roster having eligibility expire, there will not be enough seats at the table. So it's gonna be fun to watch how the depth chart sorts itself out this year and then you anticipate some attrition depending on financial demands and playing time desires.