2026 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 2

 

Brandyn Hillman (image via X)

FORMER PLAYERS

Devon Baxter, DE (Virginia): No stats to report.

Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley made 2 tackles in a 38-21 win over Kansas.

Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds is the starting right tackle for Arizona.

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Michigan 13, Western Michigan 12

 

J.J. Buchanan (image via X)

A win is a win. This is a common refrain around here, but this one still goes in the record books as a victory. As Herm Edwards famously said, "You play to win the game."

I have lots of issues with the offense. This was not a well organized or executed game plan, and I'll say that from top to bottom. Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, Bryce Underwood, the offensive line, etc., they're all accountable. I've seen a lot of heat thrown in Underwood's direction. He's not a difference maker right now, true, but other people - who are more experienced - need to be better. So he's not even my #1 problem.

Jason Beck. I think this game might have been a wake-up call for Beck. This is not to say that I don't think he's up for the challenge, but Beck got a live look at what can happen in Michigan Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, when a solid MAC team takes its best shot at a big-time program. I think Beck (and some of the players) thought they would walk into the stadium, steamroll a lesser opponent, and then try to walk into the Oklahoma game after having a warmup. That's not what happened. There are two things I'm most surprised about:

1. Beck said he had a specific number of touches he wanted for his skill guys. Jordan Marshall should get more than 11 carries, and Andrew Marsh should get more than 2 catches. You can't go a whole game and only find a way to get Marsh the ball twice. It's not like he's an outside X receiver who can be taken away if you double him. He's capable of catching screens, deep balls, in-breaking routes, getting an occasional reverse/end around, etc.
2. The passing concepts were vanilla and/or poorly executed. Now maybe the vanilla aspect has to do with the quarterback, but guys often weren't getting open for Underwood. People get mad at the quarterback when he sits back there and doesn't throw the ball, but there has to be a place for him to go more consistently. (Yes, Underwood missed some open players/plays at times, which I'll address below.)

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2026 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 1

 

Brady Hart

FORMER PLAYERS

Devon Baxter, DE (Virginia): Baxter made 1 tackle, 0.5 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup in week zero against North Carolina State.

Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley made 7 tackles in a 54-14 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds is the starting right tackle for Arizona.

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Preview: Michigan vs. Western Michigan

 

Broc Lowry (image via X)

RUSH OFFENSE vs. WMU RUSH DEFENSE
Michigan was #2 in the Big Ten in 2025 with 210 yards/game on the ground and averaged the highest yards per carry (5.44) of any team in the conference, which might be surprising to some, considering the ho-hum season and general feeling about Michigan football last season. They finished with 33 rushing touchdowns (#3 in the conference) but played in only thirteen games, while the top two teams - Indiana and Oregon - played sixteen and fifteen games, respectively. The bad thing is that Michigan swapped out Justice Haynes (who transferred to Georgia Tech) for freshman Savion Hiter. Hiter is undoubtedly talented, but probably not quite as advanced as Haynes was in 2025. Meanwhile, Utah was #2 in the country in rushing (266 yards/game) and #1 in yards per carry (6.02), and Michigan imported Utah's offense with offensive coordinator Jason Beck and offensive line coach Jim Harding. The offensive line is mostly new in 2026; right tackle Andrew Sprague is the only full-time starter returning in the same spot, with part-time starters Blake Frazier (LT), Evan Link (LG), Jake Guarnera (C), Nate Efobi (RG), and Brady Norton (RG) also playing quite a bit. Beck stated earlier this week that there will be a rotation at guard, presumably between Link, Efobi, and Norton, until they decide on a winner. Western Michigan went 10-4 last season and finished #2 in the MAC in yards allowed on the ground (126 yards/game). Their top three tacklers from last season are gone, but they return fifth year senior CB Jarvarius Sims (6'0", 188 lbs.) and redshirt junior S Micah Davis (6'1", 200), who were #4 and #5 in tackles last season. Davis was a walk-on at Michigan from 2022-2023 before transferring to WMU and will be starting once again in 2026. The entire front four consists of transfers from FCS Long Island, JUCO Kilgore College, Ohio State, and Ball State, and none of them is taller than 6'1". The starting linebackers are fifth year seniors Domanick Moon (6'2", 235) and Dillon Moore (6'2", 223), who were both backups last season and had 23 and 19 tackles, respectively. The Broncos gave up 4.1 and 4.4 yards per carry last season to Michigan State and Illinois, and Michigan is a better running team than either. I expect the Wolverines to be able to control the game on the ground.
Advantage: Michigan

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Michigan's 10 Longest Plays vs. Western Michigan

 

Brandon Herron

Michigan is 6-0 against Western Michigan since their first meeting in 2001.

1. Brandon Herron 94-yard INT return TD (2011)
2. Blake Corum 79-yard kickoff return (2021)
3. Cade McNamara 76-yard TD pass to Ronnie Bell (2021)
4. A.J. Henning 74-yard rushing TD (2021)
5. J.J. McCarthy 69-yard TD pass to Daylen Baldwin (2021)
6. Karan Higdon 67-yard rushing TD (2018)
7. Jeremy LeSueur 49-yard kickoff return (2002)
8. John Navarre 47-yard pass to Calvin Bell (2001)
9. Tate Forcier 44-yard TD pass to Junior Hemingway (2009)
10. Michael Shaw 44-yard rushing TD (2011)
11. Shea Patterson 44-yard pass TD to Nico Collins (2018)

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2026 Season Countdown: #7 John Henry Daley

 

John Henry Daley (image via MLive)

Name: John Henry Daley
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 252 lbs.
High school: Alpine (UT) Lone Peak
Position: Defensive end
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #90
Last year: Daley played for Utah. He made 48 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 pass breakup.
TTB Rating: N/A

John Henry Daley was a star last season. Football fans around the country were probably at least aware of the name because of the numbers he was racking up, finishing tied for #5 in the country in tackles for loss (1.59 for #3 on a per game basis) and #7 in sacks per game (1.05 for #2 on a per game basis). He was a wrecking ball coming off the edge for the Utes, hustling his way to outstanding numbers.

So, Thunder, why did you rank him at #7 in the countdown instead of in your top two?

Well, there's a pesky thing in the back of your leg called an Achilles tendon, and Daley injured it last season. That's why he only played in eleven games and why he didn't participate in spring football. Head coach Kyle Whittingham insists Daley is back to full strength and even might be quicker and more explosive than he was prior to his injury, but historically, it seems like Achilles injuries are difficult to come back from in such a short time while retaining every bit of burst. So along with a tougher opponent schedule, Daley is going to be building back trust in his lower body.

I think Daley will be good. I hope he will be as good as he was at Utah. But I have my doubts. Michigan also has an array of other pass rushers to throw at other teams, so perhaps even if Daley struggles to return to form, Michigan will have guys they can put in to get the job done. Perhaps nobody else is an All-America level talent this season like Daley, but the coaching staff seems pretty confident in the defensive end group.

Prediction: Starting defensive end; 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks

2026 Ex-Wolverine Updates: Week 0

 

Justice Haynes

FORMER PLAYERS

Devon Baxter, DE (Virginia): Baxter is a 6'6", 247 lb. redshirt sophomore for his first season at Virginia.

Jeremiah Beasley, LB (Missouri): Beasley made 19 tackles and 1 forced fumble in 2025 and is penciled in as a backup linebacker for the 2026 season.

Josh Beetham, TE (Georgia Tech): Beetham started five games and played in all thirteen in 2025, making 6 catches for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns altogether.

Tristan Bounds, OT (Arizona): Bounds started eight games for Arizona in 2025 and is expected to be the starting right tackle in 2026. He's listed at 6'8", 306 lbs. going into his sixth year.

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