2026 Season Countdown: #20 Nathaniel Staehling

 

Nathaniel Staehling (image via X/Brice Marich)

Name: Nathaniel Staehling
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 241 lbs.
High school: Baxter (MN) Brainerd
Position: Linebacker
Class: Fifth year senior
Jersey number: #44
Last year: Staehling played for North Dakota State. He made 75 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery.
TTB Rating: N/A

Surprise! Michigan took an FCS transfer who didn't participate in spring practice, and now here he is at #20 in the countdown. How did that happen?

Nathaniel Staehling was an all-around athlete at Brainerd in the class of 2022, playing football, basketball, baseball, and track. He played quarterback, running back, safety, kicker, and punter in high school, but he was a 0-star recruit. When he got to college, he redshirted in 2022 and played sparingly in 2023 and 2024, making 16 tackles over those two seasons. He finally became a starter in his fourth year and put up solid numbers, entering the transfer portal after the year to potentially make a one-year splash at a big program.

The gamble may have paid off. Michigan really needed some linebackers after losing the top three guys (Ernest Hausmann to graduation, Jimmy Rolder to the NFL, and Cole Sullivan to Oklahoma) following last year. The Wolverines have an array of talented but totally unproven players at the college level. Staehling looks like he's battling Troy Bowles, Chase Taylor, and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng for playing time this year, and word trickling out seems to indicate Staehling should be a starter this fall. He's a veteran with starting experience under his belt, and he has the size we expect from a Big Ten inside linebacker at 6'3", 241 lbs. He may not play like an all-star, but Michigan's options if they want solid-sized, experienced linebackers really diminish if Staehling has to miss any time.

Prediction: Starting linebacker; 50 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception

2026 Season Countdown: #21-25

 

Zack Marshall (image via PFF/X)

#21. Nathan Efobi - OG - Atlanta (GA) South Forsyth: Efobi is a 6'4", 303 lb. fourth-year player with nineteen games of experience under his belt, including five starts last season. He started early in the year before losing his job to Jake Guarnera, and then Efobi started again in the Cheez-It Bowl against Texas. The offensive line has been pretty difficult to peg in the off-season because of a new staff and a lot of talent. The Wolverines have several players with starting experience returning (Efobi, Guarnera, Blake Frazier, Evan Link, Andrew Sprague, Brady Norton) and a couple young guys (mainly Andrew Babalola, but also including Avery Gach and Marky Walbridge) who have been earning solid reviews from practice. Efobi looks like the probably starter at right guard, but things could change with about three weeks left until the season opener.

#22. Zack Marshall - TE - Carlsbad (CA) Carlsbad: Marshall is a 6'5", 245 lb. fourth-year guy who seems to have become a senior very quickly. He caught 16 passes for 199 yards and 1 touchdown in 2025 and was named the team's Most Improved Offensive Player. I'll admit I didn't give Marshall high marks coming out of high school, but the way he represents himself, talks about Michigan, and is respected by his teammates suggests he does things right off the field and has worked his way into being the projected starting tight end going into 2026. He started three games last year and came out of nowhere to catch 5 passes for 72 yards and 1 touchdown against Washington. Prior to that game, he had made 3 catches for 29 yards up through six weeks of the season. Michigan has other capable tight ends, plus the Rhino position to add to the mix, so Marshall may not be an every-down staple in the Wolverines offense. But we should see him on the field quite a bit this fall.

#23. Chase Taylor - LB - Ellenwood (GA) Stockbridge: Taylor is a 6'2", 222 lb. inside linebacker who made 10 tackles as a true freshman last season. He came in light during the 2025 cycle, right around 200 pounds, and has since added a decent chunk of weight. Michigan recently released its fall roster and most of the linebackers seem light, which makes me a little bit concerned for their Big Ten viability going into the 2026 season. I would like to see a guy who's 6'2" to be at least 230 lbs. if he's going to be playable, and Taylor obviously isn't there right now. It seems like Taylor could be a starter at inside linebacker, but there are a few options for the position, including Troy Bowles and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng.

#24. Dominic Nichols - DE - Frederick (MD) Oakdale: Nichols is a 6'5", 245 lb. defensive end who played in twelve games last season, making 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Entering his third season on campus, he has been mentioned as possibly the best pass rusher on the team, which is saying something considering the presence of Utah transfer John Henry Daley. I'm open to that possibility, but we haven't really seen it show up on the game field yet, so I'm cautiously optimistic. Michigan seems to have a few good options at the edge positions, including Nate Marshall, Cam Brandt, and Lugard Edokpayi. (NOTE: Another player who has recently started getting a lot of buzz is freshman Tariq Boney.) Nichols could emerge as a starter who's a terror off the edge, or maybe he's still just rotating behind one or two other guys. My guess is that we see him play a pretty big role as a quality backup.

#25. Nico Crawford - LS - Dublin (OH) Scioto: Crawford is a 6'0", 230 lb. fifth year senior who has played in 37 career games through his career, one that has spanned Charlotte, Illinois, and two seasons at Pitt. Now on his fourth school year in five years, he would seem to be the best bet to start at long snapper for the Wolverines in 2026. Michigan does have some other options, including sophomore transfer Gavin Magorien, but Crawford has the most experience. Hopefully this is approximately the last time we talk about long snappers for the next several months.

2026 Season Countdown: #26-30

 

Andrew Babalola (image via X)

#26. Andrew Babalola - OT - Overland Park (KS) Blue Valley Northwest: Babalola is a 6'6", 305 lb. second-year player who missed the 2025 season due to an ACL tear during fall camp. A former 5-star recruit, he now has a chance to potentially start at left tackle for the Wolverines. The problem is that he's battling with Blake Frazier, a third-year player who also came into college as a pretty darn athletic tackle prospect. Babalola missed a year of on-the-field development and wasn't extremely technically developed as a prep player, so I think he will begin the year as the sixth lineman or potentially the Rhino. There are usually injuries and/or re-shufflings on the offensive line, so he could very well move into the starting lineup at some point this season.

#27. Shamari Earls - CB - Richmond (VA) Thomas Dale: The 6'2", 195 lb. sophomore played in six games last season, but it was a pretty forgettable year. He didn't record any statistics whatsoever. But going into the 2026 season, it sounds like Earls has developed into approximately what people expected, and he has jumped past most of the guys on the roster. If not for the transfer arrival of Smith Snowden and the slightly unexpected return of Zeke Berry, Earls might be penciled in as a starter at cornerback. It sounds like he will be the third outside corner, and that guy plays quite a bit of football throughout the season. Snowden and Berry will both be out of eligibility after this season and starting cornerback Jyaire Hill will probably jump to the NFL, so Earls has an opportunity this season to play significant minutes and then be prepared to step in as a full-time starter in 2027.

#28. Cam Brown - P - Coolangatta (Australia) Palm Beach Corrumbin State: Brown is a 6'3", 185 lb. player who spent his 2025 freshman season at UNLV for Dan Mullen. He punted 22 times for 943 yards (42.9 yards/punt), forced 8 fair catches, and landed 8 punts inside the 20-yard line. Michigan has a returning starter at punter in Hudson Hollenbeck, but Hollenbeck was pretty inconsistent last season with several shanked punts. I expect Brown to be the starter in 2026, but with an experienced and pretty capable backup, he's not necessarily paramount to Michigan's success this year.

#29. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng - LB - Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Owusu-Boateng is a 6'1", 216 lb. sophomore who played in seven games in 2025, making 4 tackles. Linebacker is a very uncertain group in 2026 because the Wolverines lost their top three linebackers: Jimmy Rolder (NFL), Ernest Hausmann (left the team), and Cole Sullivan (Oklahoma). They also didn't do a great job of replacing the position in the transfer portal. One would think a team like Michigan could attract and/or afford some top talent, but they got some so-so transfers. Perhaps Max Alford or Aisea Moa or Nathaniel Staehling will turn out to be stars, but the jury is still out. Regardless, Owusu-Boateng seems like someone who will be a good player down the road, but he's very light at 216 lbs. and doesn't have much experience. I expect him to be a backup in 2026, but I'm not sure anyone but perhaps the coaches knows how this will play out.

#30. Hogan Hansen - TE - Bellevue (WA) Bellevue: Hansen is a 6'6", 240 lb. junior who caught 6 passes for 74 yards in 2025. In some ways, he looks like the smoothest tight end Michigan has had outside of Colston Loveland in the past several years. In other ways, he looks exactly like 2024 Colston Loveland in that he was injured for most of 2025. Hansen appears to be a potential difference maker as a receiving tight end with his smooth hands, but he will need to stay healthy. Tight end is another interesting position battle in 2026, because there's the Rhino position (see Andrew Babalola above), there are a couple fullback types in the mix (Jalen Hoffman and Eli Owens), and then there are a few true tight ends like Hansen, Zack Marshall, and Deakon Tonielli. I like what Hansen brings to the table as a receiver, and new offensive coordinator Jason Beck did a good job getting production from tight ends in 2025 at Utah: Dallen Bentley had 48 catches for 620 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Utes, and J.J. Buchanan - who was listed as a tight end - was flat-out used as a receiver because his skills were recognized as a mismatch. Furthermore, Beck turned former Wolverine Dan Villari into an all-around threat in 2023 at Syracuse, where Villari totaled 6 touchdowns as a passer, runner, and receiver. 

2026 Season Countdown: #31-35

 

Jaime Ffrench (image via X)

#31. Jaime Ffrench - WR - Jacksonville (FL) Mandarin: Ffrench is a 6'2", 185 lb. second-year player who's in his first year at Michigan after transferring from Texas. The former elite recruit played in four games last season for the Longhorns (1 catch for 6 yards). Michigan needed significant help at the position this off-season, and it should be an improved group. Ffrench seems likely to be no higher than the #3 receiver behind Andrew Marsh and J.J. Buchanan, and the #3 wide receiver for Utah last year caught 15 passes for 280 yards and 6 touchdowns. I think Ffrench will catch more than 15 passes for the Wolverines in 2026, partly because he supposedly has a good rapport with classmate Bryce Underwood.

#32. Nate Marshall - DE - Oak Park (IL) Fenwick: Marshall is listed at 6'3", 248 lbs. in his second year in Ann Arbor. He made 6 tackles and showed some flashes of athleticism in 2025, but he seemed a little light. He's still not very big for a Big Ten defensive end, but an extra year in the weight room hopefully helped. Michigan needs some help at edge rusher and Marshall was a highly valued recruit coming out of high school. Practice buzz has been somewhat limited, and he seems like a guy who will play significant minutes, but it might be 2027 before he really breaks out or commands a starting role.

#33. Troy Bowles - LB - Tampa (FL) Jesuit: Bowles is a 6'0", 224 lb. third-year player who spent one year at Georgia in 2024 before arriving at Michigan last season. He was supposed to be a deep backup, but multiple injuries to linebackers like Cold Sullivan and Jimmy Rolder led to him seeing more playing time than expected. He made 27 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 blocked kick. The linebacker position is one of the more intriguing position battles in camp, because there are a lot of bodies, but nobody has really accomplished much. Nathaniel Staehling, Aisea Moa, and Max Alford are all veteran transfers, Bowles played significant minutes last year, and then there are people like Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor, who are totally unproven. I have a feeling that Bowles will end up as a backup this season (barring injury to someone), but it's a bit of a crapshoot.

#34. Salesi Moa - WR - Ogden (UT) Fremont: The 6'2", 186 lb. freshman signed with Utah and then immediately transferred to Michigan over the winter, following head coach Kyle Whittingham across the country. Michigan also landed his older brother Aisea Moa in the transfer portal. The Wolverines seem pretty set with their #1 and #2 receivers (see Jaime Ffrench's blurb above), so Moa seems to be fighting for the #3 spot with Ffrench and a couple other players. I don't know how that will shake out, but I'm giving the edge to the older player in Ffrench. Moa ended up ranked as a 4-star, the #2 athlete, and #49 overall in the 2026 recruiting class, so he was a highly regarded recruit. We might see flashes from him this fall, and I personally would like to see how he might look as a kickoff returner. But he's a freshman, so I'm keeping my expectations low for now.

#35. Brady Norton - OT - Mission Viejo (CA) Mission Viejo: Norton is a 6'4", 310 lb. senior who had three starts and played in seven total games in 2025. Norton seems to be in the running to start at offensive guard in 2026, battling with the likes of Nate Efobi, Evan Link, and others. Ranked at #35 here, obviously it looks like I expect him to lose the position battle, but he should be a capable backup who can play a few positions on the offensive line. He spent some time at offensive tackle while he was in junior college in California. He could be a starter or he could be the #7 or #8 lineman on the team.

2026 Season Countdown: #36-40

 

Lugard Edokpayi (image via Wolverines Wire)

#36. Jonah Lea'ea - DT - Las Vegas (NV) Bishop Gorman: Lea'ea is a 6'5", 285 lb. fourth-year player who made 38 tackles and 1 sack while playing at Utah last season. He came along with head coach Kyle Whittingham from the Utes and has starting experience, so it's easy to see why he might have a little leg up on the competition in Ann Arbor. However, he's a little bit light to play defensive tackle in the Big Ten, and he got pushed around a little bit last season, too. The goal this off-season was to continue adding weight (he was listed at 230 lbs. coming out of high school), so perhaps if/when the fall roster is posted, he will be in the 290s or so. I expect him to be a backup to Enow Etta, but he should still play a good amount.

#37. Houston Ka'aha'aina-Torres - C - Honolulu (HI) St. Louis: Ka'aha'aina-Torres was a 3-star, the #45 interior offensive lineman, and #636 coming out of high school in 2025. He spent last season at Nebraska and played in two games before entering the transfer portal and landing at Michigan in the off-season. After coming out of high school at 265 lbs., he is now listed at 6'3", 300 lbs. Michigan has Jake Guarnera entrenched at center, but Ka'aha'aina-Torres could be his primary backup or at least compete for the role. True freshman Ace Hamilton has also received solid reviews at center, and Michigan has a couple veterans who could potentially snap the ball. The backup center role could be a very important spot, but Ka'aha'aina-Torres's lack of experience makes it questionable whether he will be the best option right now.

#38. Mason Curtis - S - Nashville (TN) Ensworth: Curtis made a good sized splash in 2025, starting three games as a sophomore and making 34 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 interception. The 6'5", 211-pounder is kind of a returning starter, so why is he ranked at #43? Well, first of all, it does not appear that Curtis will be starting in 2026. Captain Rod Moore is returning from injury (hopefully) and Michigan brought in Memphis transfer Chris Bracy, who seems to have earned the other starting safety role. Michigan also has some talented depth at safety that includes Jacob Oden and Jordan Young, among others. Curtis should get a fair amount of playing time in 2026 and play on special teams, but he probably won't be starting again unless there are injury problems.

#39. Lugard Edokpayi - DE - Bowie (MD) Bishop McNamara: Edokpayi is a 6'7", 250 lb. defensive end who played in eight games last season. Sporting the #88, he always looks like a backup tight end who is getting some two-way snaps off the edge, but no, he's a full-time defensive player. Edokpayi regularly gets mentioned as a freak athlete who does impressive things in practice, but those things didn't really show up on the field in 2025 when he didn't record any statistics. Another year in the weight room has likely helped, and Edokpayi will probably be in the edge rusher rotation and play quite a bit this season. His long frame and athleticism should help, and hopefully his technique and attack plan will have improved this year after another season at the position.

#40. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi - QB - Aledo (TX) Aledo: Fowler-Nicolosi might be highly underranked here at #40. The 6'3", 212 lb. fifth year senior transferred in this summer after spending the past four years at Colorado State. He started 28 total games over that span, including one as a freshman in 2022. Colorado State hasn't been very good, and Fowler-Nicolosi's numbers also haven't been stellar (38 touchdowns to 29 interceptions, 60.2% completions), but he's experienced at the college level, which is something that can't be said about the trio of Tommy Carr, Chase Herbstreit, and Brady Smigiel, who have a combined zero snaps of college playing time. Michigan is likely in a situation where if the starter (Bryce Underwood) goes down, the team's chances of doing much of anything go with him. Fowler-Nicolosi's lack of running ability means the offense's identity would have to change, and perhaps that gives Carr the edge in the race to be the backup. The coaches said Carr would head into fall camp as the backup quarterback. I think they'll try to get Fowler-Nicolosi up to speed as the solid veteran to fill in, but if Michigan gets to a point this season where they have to build for the future, they might just throw Carr in there and let him prepare to be The Guy down the road.

2026 Season Countdown: #41-45

 

Tommy Carr (image via X)

#41. Tommy Carr - QB - Saline (MI) Saline: Carr is a 6'4", 185 lb. true freshman (LINK) who showed up in the winter after flipping from Miami-OH late in the recruiting process. He's the grandson of former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, the son of former Michigan quarterback Jason Carr, and the brother of Notre Dame starting quarterback C.J. Carr. Tommy was the talk of the spring game and performed better than Bryce Underwood, though spring games should be taken with a grain of salt. That he was committed to Miami-OH was a bit of a miracle because he was ranked as a 4-star, the #22 quarterback, and #318 overall in the recruiting class. I will admit that I probably have Carr (or Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi) ranked too highly, because this means I will have three quarterbacks ranked in the top 41 players, but Fowler-Nicolosi didn't enroll for spring practice and I was a little nervous that he wouldn't show up. (Michigan has seen similar departures from transfers like Taylor Tatum and Colin Hurley, who enrolled in the winter and then left the team.) My guess is that Carr will end up the #3 guy and try to develop for 2027, but he's a good looking athlete who could have a bright future in a winged helmet.

#42. Carter Meadows - DE - Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Meadows is a 6'7", 252 lb. true freshman who should make a pretty immediate impact at Michigan. He has added some decent weight since the time when he committed, when he was listed in the area of 220-225 pounds. His previous weight is virtually unplayable at his height, but now that he's reportedly in the 250s, that's a good sign. Michigan has a solid edge group with Dominic Nichols, Cam Brandt, John Henry Daley, and others, but Meadows probably has the highest upside of any edge rusher on the roster. He was a 5-star, the #4 edge player, and #9 overall in the 2026 recruiting class, and while there are things he needs to improve, there are going to be situations where defensive coordinator can send him to go after the quarterback . . . and at 6'7", 252 lbs. with his speed, that's enough to speed up a quarterback's timing at the very least.

#43. Benny Patterson - DE - Newburgh (IN) Castle: Patterson has been flying under the radar a little bit over the past year or so, but the 6'2", 270 lb. second-year player has been mentioned by several people as a rising contributor for the 2026 squad. After playing in five games in 2025, he now has a chance to work his way onto the field in some capacity. He's not quite big enough to hold his own at defensive tackle and doesn't have great pass rushing chops off the edge, but he has supposedly made some great strides in the weight room. We should start to see him emerge this fall, perhaps rotating with the likes of Cam Brandt.

#44. Deyvid Palepale - DT - Manheim (PA) Hempfield: Some people had high expectations for Palepale coming out of high school as a stalwart nose tackle, but things have started off slowly for him during his first two years on campus. After not seeing the field in 2024, he played in two games toward the end of the 2025 season. Michigan needs players to step up at tackle, and Palepale has been earning some buzz as one of those guys who should see the field in 2026. As a 6'2", 335 lb. nose tackle, he has a chance to be stout in the middle. I don't expect much of a pass rush from him, and we'll see how well conditioned he is. But if the coaching staff can manage his snaps appropriately, he could be the primary backup for starting nose tackle Trey Pierce this season.

#45. Hudson Hollenbeck - P - Collierville (TN) Collierville: In one of the more intriguing position battles, returning starting punter Hollenbeck will be in a fight to maintain that job. Hollenbeck has the capability to boom some punts, but he's one of the more inconsistent punters I've seen at Michigan. He averaged 43.2 yards per punt last season (40 punts for 1,729 yards) and had eleven punts go for 50+ yards, including a 67-yarder. He also shanked several opportunities. His 43.2 yard average is decent, and it would look even better if he didn't doink one off the side of his foot every couple games. So Michigan brought in UNLV starting punter Cam Brown, and Brown probably has the inside track to start this fall. Hollenbeck could potentially handle kickoff duties, and he was also the Wolverines' holder last season, so there are still opportunities for him to play. But his main role from 2025 is in jeopardy of being lost for the 6'2", 206 lb. fifth year senior.

2026 Season Countdown: #46-50

 

Bryson Kuzdzal (image via X)

#46. Bryzon Kuzdzal - RB - Grand Rapids (MI) Forest Hills Eastern: Kuzdzal is a 5'11", 210 lb. redshirt junior who was a walk-on in 2023 when the team won a national championship. He went from not playing in any games that year to playing on special teams in 2024 and then starting two games at running back in 2025 after Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall got injured. Kuzdzal had 76 carries for 326 yards and 4 touchdowns, including 20 carries for 100 yards and 3 touchdowns against Maryland. Perhaps an extra year in the weight room will help, but he's generally a pretty quick runner who didn't really show much ability to break tackles. After entering the transfer portal this off-season to find a bigger opportunity, he returned to Michigan after Justice Haynes jumped in the portal and landed at Georgia Tech. Kuzdzal will likely be the third running back this season, behind Marshall and freshman Savion Hiter.

#47. Deakon Tonielli - TE - Oswego (IL) Oswego: Tonielli is a 6'5", 246 lb. redshirt junior who made two starts at tight end in 2025, grabbing 8 catches for 72 yards. He didn't play in any games during his first two seasons on campus and then suddenly found himself starting at times, largely because starter Marlin Klein missed a big chunk of time due to a leg injury. The pecking order at tight end is questionable right now, but it appears that Hogan Hansen and Zack Marshall will be ahead of Tonielli on the depth chart. Michigan will also use an extra lineman in place of a tight end at times. I would not be surprised if this is his final season in Ann Arbor unless he can surge past one or both of those aforementioned players for some momentum going into 2027, but for now he should be a solid third tight end.

#48. Jordan Young - S - Monroe (NC) Monroe: Young is a 6'0", 195 lb. sophomore who played in ten games last season, making 15 tackles and 3 pass breakups. He has earned solid reviews from practices, but competition is stiff in the defensive backfield. It was thought that he could contribute at the nickel position, but defensive coordinator Jay Hill mentioned three players vying for time at nickel (Smith Snowden, Zeke Berry, Jyaire Hill) who weren't named Jordan Young. It also appears that Rod Moore and Chris Bracy will be the two starting safeties, so Young will be battling for a backup role somewhere. Some spots should open up in 2027 with eligibility running out for a few of the aforementioned players, so he might be a starter for the Wolverines in another year.

#49. Jalen Hoffman - TE - Burke (VA) Lake Braddock: The 6'3", 245 lb. redshirt junior Hoffman waited a few seasons at Michigan to replace Max Bredeson at fullback, only to have the offense change just before his big opportunity arrived. Hoffman played a fair amount in 2025 as Bredeson's backup and the highlight of his season was probably when he recovered an onside kick against Michigan State. I don't know exactly what to expect from the offense in 2026, but it feels like the fullback/H-back position might be de-emphasized when compared to the Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore eras. Michigan also has thumper Eli Owens as a somewhat similar fullback type to Hoffman, so it will be interesting to see how much these body types and skill sets will be used by new offensive coordinator Jason Beck.

#50. Jacob Oden - S - Harper Woods (MI) Harper Woods: Oden is a 6'1", 205 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in ten games on defense in 2025, making 3 tackles and 1 interception. The interception came against Washington when eventual first round pick Denzel Boston had an uncharacteristic drop after beating the defense, and Oden happened to be nearby on the ground, with the ball falling into his lap. It wasn't the most beautiful play, but it still goes in the stat book. Anyway, Oden will be a backup once again in 2026, battling with the likes of Jordan Young (see above) and Mason Curtis for playing time. Oden should also be a factor on special teams.

2026 Season Countdown: #51-55

 

Channing Goodwin (image via Detroit News)

#51. Aisea Moa - LB - North Ogden (UT) Weber: Moa is a 6'2", 238 lb. fifth year senior who is the older brother of Michigan freshman wide receiver Salesia Moa. Aisea spent three years at BYU before transferring to Michigan State in 2025, where he made 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 2 pass breakups. (He made 2 of his 12 tackles in the Michigan game.) He played for new Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill when he was at BYU, so he has some familiarity with the system as well as some playing experience (27 total games played during his four years). He does not appear to be in the running to start at linebacker, but he will probably play some special teams and should be able to help in the linebacker room as the inexperienced group learns Hill's system.

#52. Channing Goodwin - WR - Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Goodwin is a 6'1", 197 lb. redshirt sophomore who started six games in 2025. It's odd for a half-season starter to drop so precipitously from where we might expect a returning starter to be, but Michigan has upgraded its wide receiver corps. Goodwin had 12 catches for 148 yards last season and did some nice things at times, and I admitted at one point last year that he seemed to be faster than he looked when he was coming out of high school. But the talent in the position group has been upgraded with transfers J.J. Buchanan (Utah) and Jaime Ffrench (Texas), along with freshmen Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson. Goodwin seems like a fairly reliable player who should be able to jump in the game adequately in case of an injury or two, or just to give someone a breather, but he doesn't seem to have game-changing ability.

#53. Travis Moten - DT - Louisville (KY) Fern Creek: Moten is a 6'6", 315 lb. monster of a human who's a bit of a question mark at this point. He has the requisite size to be a force, but he only played in one game last season, his first year of college. Michigan needs some players to step up at defensive tackle, especially if Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea hasn't been able to add weight and/or won't be able to hold up inside for the Wolverines. Michigan also has other options like Benny Patterson and Deyvid Palepale who are unproven, and the team needs someone from that cluster of players to emerge as a rotational player in 2026.

#54. Eli Owens - TE - Alcoa (TN) Alcoa: Owens is a 6'1", 244 lb. redshirt freshman who has said all the right things - he wants to be a team player and wants to emulate former Michigan fullback/tight end Max Bredeson. The biggest question is whether Michigan will employ fullbacks and tight ends in the same way they did under Jim Harbaugh and Sherrone Moore. Owens even took over the #44 jersey from Bredeson, but the transplanted Utah staff used a "Rhino" - a backup defensive lineman or offensive lineman - as an extra tight end last year, and they averaged having 5.5 offensive linemen per snap in 2025. Owens is likely to be a backup to Jalen Hoffman, so I don't have high expectations for Owens to be a major factor in 2026, but he should be in the mix to play on special teams.

#55. Jamar Browder - WR - Jacksonville (FL) Santaluces: Browder is a 6'5", 215 lb. sophomore who played in seven games as a freshman last season. Despite playing a fair amount, he did not make any receptions. Michigan brought in several new receiving targets (see Channing Goodwin's blurb above) and Browder was already behind a few guys, so he will probably not see a ton of playing time in 2026. His biggest asset - mini tight end size at 6'5", 215 - may be something the offensive coaching staff could use in some jumbo sets or down near the goal line, but I expect him to play fewer snaps this year than last year.

2026 Season Countdown: #56-60

 

Travis Johnson (image via X)

#56. Bobby Kanka - DT - Howell (MI) Howell: Kanka is a 6'4", 305 lb. second-year player who has quietly emerged as someone I think might start making some contributions in 2026. While I wasn't high on him coming out of high school, he has added some good weight and looks like someone who could play some backup snaps. I'm not expecting him to be a starter or work his way into the regular rotation, but playing some snaps to rest the top few guys isn't out of the question, depending on the game situation. Michigan does need some players to emerge at defensive tackle, and Kanka is in the mix.

#57. Travis Johnson - WR - Chesapeake (VA) Oscar Smith: Johnson is a 6'2", 185 lb. true freshman who enrolled early and immediately looked good for the Wolverines, according to practice reports. A 4-star, the #18 wide receiver, and #125 overall in the 2026 class, he has the recruiting pedigree to be an early contributor. His MGoBlue profile says he had "at least" 40 catches for 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2025, so that's roughly 30 yards per catch if those numbers are close to being accurate. I think Johnson will definitely play in 2026, but it's a matter of how much. The Wolverines kept Andrew Marsh and brought in J.J. Buchanan (Utah) and Jaime Ffrench (Texas), along with landing freshman transfer Salesi Moa (Utah); Moa seems to be ahead of Johnson right now, and Johnson will also have to contend with holdovers Kendrick Bell and Channing Goodwin. Johnson is more talented than Bell or Goodwin, but the experience factor may work against him.

#58. Jo'Ziah Edmond - CB - Indianapolis (IN) Northwood: Edmond has been pretty quiet through two seasons in Ann Arbor, and now he's a 6'1", 185 lb. defensive back with ten total appearances under his belt. He only played in the first two games in 2025 after playing in eight games in 2024, so perhaps there was something going on behind the scenes like a minor injury. But the depth chart behind Jyaire Hill and Smith Snowden is pretty murky, and this year would be a prime opportunity for another cornerback or two to step up. Edmond looks like he's at least behind Shamari Earls in the running for playing time, and I would have expected Edmond to have a little more weight on him by this point in his career. We're not likely to see a breakout season from Edmond, but he could emerge as a rotational corner behind the aforementioned guys.

#59. Taylor Tatum - S - Longview (TX) Longview: Tatum is a 5'10", 212 lb. redshirt sophomore who spent the past two seasons playing running back at Oklahoma. Michigan was a finalist for him back in 2024 and recruited him out of the transfer portal prior to the Sherrone Moore scandal going public. Tatum is now listed as a safety instead of a running back, and he looked decent in the spring. If Michigan were to run into depth issues at running back, it's possible that Tatum could switch positions, but for now it looks like he'll stick on the defensive side of the ball. Tatum has not been mentioned among the top few safeties, so I don't imagine he'll see significant playing time on defense, but he does offer upside with his versatility and perhaps an ability to contribute on special teams.

#60. Marky Walbridge - OT - Hanover (MA) St. Sebastian's: Walbridge is a 6'6", 285 lb. true freshman who enrolled early during the winter. He was a 4-star, the #25 offensive tackle, and #241 overall in the class. Spring practice reports mentioned him as somewhat of a pleasant surprise for someone who was supposed to be finishing his senior year of high school, and there have been whisperings that he could be the "Rhino" in Michigan's offensive personnel package that would bring in a sixth lineman as a quasi tight end. While that remains a possibility, I'm always skeptical of true freshman offensive linemen. Jim Harbaugh used to his sixth best offensive lineman as the extra guy, and I doubt that's Walbridge; furthermore, sometimes the position requires people to think on the move as defenses adjust and shift, and I would think an older player might be able to make those adjustments and recognitions a little quicker. Regardless, it's possible that we see Walbridge playing a role in 2026.

2026 Season Countdown: #61-65

 

Kendrick Bell (#10, image via Alejandro Zuniga/X)

#61. Kendrick Bell - WR - Kansas City (MO) Park Hill: Bell enters his fourth season on campus as a 6'2", 205 lb. wide receiver. After starting his career as a quarterback and then quickly transitioning to receiver, he ascended to the point in 2025 where he started one game and played in all thirteen. He made 3 catches for 54 yards on the season, including a touchdown against Texas in the bowl game. Now he seems to be a bit of an afterthought with Michigan keeping Andrew Marsh and bringing in Jaime Ffrench (Texas), J.J. Buchanan (Utah), and higher schooler Travis Johnson, among others. There's still a chance that Bell could start a game here or there in certain packages or if an injury or two happen, but he's not looked at as one of the top few options.

#62: Jonathan Brown - RB - Columbus (OH) St. Frances de Sales: Brown is a 6'3", 200 lb. running back who was an under-the-radar land (3-star, #50 RB, #804 overall) for the Wolverines in the class of 2026. Running backs coach Tony Alford took a liking to him at a football camp in the summer of 2025 and extended an offer, and Brown supposedly looked pretty good in the spring. It's probably too early to expect much from a freshman running back who is pretty tall and slight at this point, but Michigan has a solid top three at running back and then things get murky with Brown, Donovan Johnson, and walk-ons. Here I have Brown as the #4 running back, so hopefully the top three stay pretty healthy throughout the season.

#63. Jacob Baggett - K - Charlotte (NC) Providence Day: Baggett is a 6'0", 170 lb. freshman who set a North Carolina state record for touchbacks in a single season with 95 touchbacks out of 102 kickoffs. He also made 6/7 field goals and his only miss was from 51 yards. High schoolers kick off from the -40 yard line, whereas college kickers kick from the -35, so Baggett will have a slightly larger challenge to get touchbacks for the next few years. I'm not sure quite where to place him in the countdown, because he could end up as the kickoff specialist or he could never see the field at all. Returning specialist Hudson Hollenbeck has spent most of his time punting over the past couple seasons, but Michigan also brought in Pitt place kicker Trey Butkowski (zero kickoffs in 2025) and UNLV punter Cam Brown (zero kickoffs in 2025). Whether it's Baggett or one of the other three, somebody is going to be handling kickoff duties for the first time in college.

#64. Avery Gach - OG - Franklin (MI) Groves: Gach is a 6'5", 308 lb. redshirt freshman who played in five games last season, including the Cheez-It Bowl against Texas. The coaching staff seemed to like his gritty attitude and I heard him mentioned several times as someone to watch for as an up-and-comer. I think his lack of experience will hold him back from being a major contributor in 2026, but he appears to be on that next rung of players who could slide into a key role when someone ahead of him moves on or gets injured. The problem for Gach could be that the guys ahead of him are also pretty young, so he may have to wait even beyond next year before a spot opens up.

#65. Gavin Magorien - LS - Erie (PA) McDowell: Magorien is a 6'0", 202 lb. second-year college player after transferring in from Marshall over the off-season. He was Marshall's long snapper in twelve games last season, so he's rather experienced - and pretty small, by the way - for a second year college player. Michigan seems to have pumped out solid long snappers for the past several years, so this is the first time in a while where the position is a little uncertain. However, along with Magorien, the Wolverines brought in fifth-year Pitt long snapper Nico Crawford, who also spent time at Illinois and Charlotte. My guess is that the fifth-year, three-year starter will start over the second-year, second-year starter, so here Magorien is at #65 on the countdown.

2026 Season Countdown: #66-70

 

Alister Vallejo

#66. Kainoa Winston - S - Washington (DC) Gonzaga: Winston played in one game in 2025 and enters his second year as a 5'11", 204 lb. safety. He was a hyped recruit who I thought would get a little more playing time in 2025, but for whatever reason, that didn't happen. Winston now has a chance to use his speed and hitting ability with the new coaching staff and compete with a variety of safety options. I will be interested to see if defensive coordinator Jay Hill sees him more as a nickel or a safety, but Michigan has several safety/nickel types who will likely be moving on after this year (Chris Bracy, Rod Moore, Smith Snowden, etc.) and the coaches will probably start to prepare some of these young guys for more significant roles in 2027.

#67. Alister Vallejo - DT - Liberty Hill (TX) Liberty Hill: Vallejo is a 6'3", 310 lb. freshman whom a lot of people have compared to Mason Graham. Graham was a first year contributor back in 2022, but he played against better competition in high school. Vallejo (4-star, #23 DL, #212 overall) has some similar skills but may need a little more time to percolate. I expect him to work his way into the rotation this season, and it's nice to see that he's a playable size. Some defensive tackle prospects come in at around 270 pounds or so and then they just can't even see the field for a while. By the end of the season, I think Vallejo will be a pretty steady contributor as a backup.

#68. Jeremiah Lowe - CB - Lexington (KY) Frederick Douglass: Lowe is a 5'11", 180 lb. player entering his third season in a Michigan uniform. He has only played two games in his career, but he made 2 interceptions in the 2025 spring game and there's an opportunity in a revamped secondary. He could play on special teams and may find a backup role on defense. Michigan has some good players returning and brought in Smith Snowden from Utah, so there's some healthy competition for playing time in the secondary.

#69. Jamarion Vincent - CB - Waco (TX) Connally: Vincent is a 6'2", 170 lb. corner who was kind of a quiet late addition to Michigan's class. After flipping from Baylor to Michigan in late November 2025, he then enrolled early and earned some buzz during spring ball. Obviously, there were other headlines this off-season for Michigan, but normally I feel like Michigan stealing the #150 recruit late in the cycle would generate a little more excitement. His lack of bulk may hold him back in 2026, but some situational seasoning may take place to see if he can solidify a role for 2027.

#70. Manuel Beigel - OG - (CT) Choate Rosemary Hall: Beigel is a 6'5", 312 lb. player entering his third year. He spent his first two seasons playing defensive line, but the new coaching staff moved him to offensive line this off-season. If offensive line coach Jim Harding sees something in him, then that's probably a good sign that the position switch is a good idea for his development. Beigel played in seven games last season and recovered a fumble on defense. It's not clear how much of a factor he'll be in 2026 and I would guess it will be at least 2027 before we see anything significant from him on offense, but the 2025 coaching staff started to get his feet wet. It will be interesting to see if the transplanted Utah staff also tries to keep him involved.

2026 Season Countdown: #71-75

 

Malakai Lee

#71. Jaylen Pile - WR - Dallas (TX) Parish Episcopal: Pile is a 6'0", 195 lb. freshman wide receiver who caught 55 passes for 1,186 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior last season. He finished the recruiting cycle as a 3-star, the #180 wide receiver, and #1263 overall. I'm not overly high on Pile's skills, but I have no idea how he's ranked that low. His speed isn't anything special, but he does have good toughness, hands, production, etc. I don't think he'll ever be a #1 receiver for Michigan, but he could be valuable as a complementary receiver or as a returner.

#72. Markel Dabney - LB - Richmond (VA) Huguenot: Dabney is a 6'1", 225 lb. freshman who enrolled in Ann Arbor this winter. He made 68 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, and 1 interception on defense, and he also had 624 yards of total offense with 12 touchdowns on offense. With the linebacker room in flux, Dabney has an opportunity to get some backup snaps as a freshman and perhaps play some defense. Ranked as a 3-star, the #50 athlete, and #804 overall, he played several different positions in high school, but he should make some big improvements once he settles in at one position in college.

#73. Malakai Lee - OT - Honolulu (HI) Kamehameha: Lee is listed as a 6'7", 350 lb. true freshman. I knew he was big, but I didn't realize he would weigh that much coming into college. He has a thick, solid build, so 350 pounds on Lee looks different than on some other players, but it's still tough to get on the field early at that size. My guess is that the coaching staff will try to get him somewhere around 330. In many years Lee (4-star, #13 OT, #107 overall) might seem like someone who could slide onto the field in year one as a backup, but Michigan has a variety of more veteran options. I think the coaches will let him get his feet wet, but we're probably looking at 2027 at the earliest for any major contributions.

#74. Aden Reeder - LB - Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Reeder is a 6'2", 215 lb. freshman who made 47 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 2 pass breakups as a senior in 2025. He finished the cycle as a 3-star, the #54 linebacker, and #634 overall. Reeder has length and speed and looks like someone who could play on coverage units as a freshman, so while I don't think he will play much defense, I could see him being on the kickoff coverage unit from week one.

#75. Jordan Deck - S - Frisco (TX) Lone Star: Deck is a 6'2", 190 lb. freshman who was a 4-star, the #31 safety, and #379 overall in the 2026 class. As a senior in 2025, he made 106 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions (one of which he returned for a 96-yard touchdown). The Wolverines have a good amount of depth at safety, but it always seems like there's a guy who plays early even when the rotation seems pretty full. Deck has a solid build and some good skills. Nothing truly stands out about him (size, speed, hitting ability, etc.), but sometimes those guys end up being really steady safeties.

2026 Season Countdown: #76-80

 

C.J. Charleston (image via X)

#76. C.J. Charleston - WR - Cleveland (OH) Gilmour Academy: Nobody really talks about this, but Charleston is a super weird eligibility story and I have no idea what's going on when it comes to why he's still on Michigan's roster. The 6'0", 190 lb. wideout started two games for Michigan back in 2024, so he has played at the Big Ten level . . . but he started his college career all the way back in 2019. Just for some context, Michigan's headliner in the 2019 class was Daxton Hill . . . who is now entering his fifth season in the NFL. Charleston played at Youngstown State prior to Michigan and is now in his third season on the Wolverines roster. He was injured last year and the plan for him this fall is unclear. I have a hard time believing he'll work his way back to a starting role, partly because the new coaching staff has upgraded the receiver room with transfers like Jaime Ffrench and Salesi Moa. But Charleston does have college playing experience and is the oldest player on Michigan's roster, so maybe that will be enough to get him on the field situationally.

#77. Nico Andrighetto - S - Mountain View (CA) St. Francis: Andrighetto is a 5'9", 190 lb. fifth year senior who has been named Scout Team Player of the Year three times during his career - on defense in 2023-2024 and on special teams in 2025. He made just 1 tackle last season but played in eight total games. We'll see if the new coaching staff will also recognize his strengths and abilities, but I figure Andrighetto will continue to be a contributor on special teams.

#78. I'Marion Stewart - WR - Chicago (IL) Kenwood: Stewart is one of those players who came in with some excitement . . . and now it seems to be getting late early. He didn't see the field in 2024 and suffered an ACL injury in 2025, so now he enters year three in college with zero playing experience. Once thought of as a potential kick/punt returner and a possible solution at slot receiver, he seems to be getting zero buzz. I'm giving the edge to Charleston (see above) when it comes to importance, but Stewart had higher upside coming out of high school. Is he healthy and can he translate the mental reps from the past couple years into doing some good things on the field this fall? My guess is that we won't see much of him in 2026, but maybe he could show up as a returner on special teams.

#79. Kaden Catchings - LB - Jackson (MS) Hartfield: Michigan's first signee out of Mississippi since Jeremy LeSueur, Catchings is listed as a 6'1", 220 lb. freshman. He made 29 tackles and 2 sacks on defense and rushed for 336 yards and 6 touchdowns on offense during his senior season. Michigan brought in several transfer linebackers (Max Alford, Aisea Moa, Nate Staehling, etc.) and has some unproven talent in the linebacker room, so the depth chart is a little bit muddy. However, Catchings is probably not going to play much this fall.

#80. Chase Herbstreit - QB - Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Redshirt freshman Herbstreit is listed at 6'1", 198 lbs. and appears to be well down the depth chart for the Wolverines. The son of ESPN analyst - and former Ohio State quarterback - Kirk Herbstreit, Chase fell behind true freshman Tommy Carr as soon as Carr arrived on campus this winter. With former Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi also entering the fray this summer, it appears that Herbstreit will be no higher than fourth on the quarterback depth chart. His size, athleticism, and arm strength are only so-so, which means his path to playing time will have to come from his intellect. I don't think that will be enough for him this season, so Herbstreit will likely be a scout team guy in 2026.

2026 Season Countdown: #81-85

 

Donovan Johnson (image via Instagram)

#81. Chibi Anwunah - DT - Plymouth (MI) Christian: Anwunah is now a 6'5", 300 lb. defensive tackle after playing some tight end and defensive end earlier in his career. He has steadily bulked up over the past few years. Last year he was a defensive end who played in twelve games on special teams and one on the defensive line, so he does offer some value. It's unclear where he fits in the pecking order at defensive tackle after adding some weight from last year, and his special teams value may be diminishing as he adds weight and probably loses some quickness.

#82. Donovan Johnson - RB - Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy: Johnson is a 6'0", 215 lb. second-year player who did not see any time in 2025 due to an injury. He has had some injury problems over the past few years, and I have some concern that he won't get back to full strength. Hopefully I'm wrong. Even if healthy, he would probably be no higher than #4 on the depth chart behind Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter, and Bryson Kuzdzal, so we probably won't see much of him this fall as he battles Jonathan Brown for snaps.

#83. Ted Hammond - DT - Cincinnati (OH) St. Xavier: Hammond is a 6'5", 294 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in one game last year. Michigan has some questions on the interior defensive line this year, because they have lost a lot of talent over the past couple seasons with few surefire answers behind those players. The best interior defensive lineman this year might be Trey Pierce, who has been a solid player but hasn't done much spectacular over the past few years. Hammond has a chance to work his way into the rotation in 2026, but I think we're unlikely to see him step up, and there hasn't been any buzz about him coming out of practices.

#84. Ernest Nunley - S - Harbor City (CA) Narbonne: Nunley is a 6'0", 180 lb. true freshman who signed with Cal in December 2025 and then entered the transfer portal in the winter, eventually ending up at Michigan. He made 5 interceptions among 20 total pass breakups as a senior last fall. Nunley is pretty slight coming out of high school and probably needs to add about 10-15 pounds of muscle from his prep frame, so I'm not sure if that will have happened by this fall. But he does have some good instincts and could be someone who sneaks onto the field in some low pressure situations to get his feet wet for the future.

#85. Max Reyes - S - Southlake (TX) Carroll: Reyes is a 5'11", 203 lb. fifth year senior. He played in one game in 2024 and did not see any action in 2025, but he has shown up in the spring games and seems like someone who could make some appearances on special teams. It seems like Michigan used to have one former walk-on safety every year who would make his way onto the field on defense or maybe on special teams, but maybe those opportunities are diminishing with the new NIL and transfer rules in place.

2026 Season Countdown: #86-90

 

Max Alford (image via Yahoo!)

#86. Max Alford - LB - Park City (UT) Park City: Alford is a 6'1", 230 lb. fifth year senior and the nephew of running backs coach Tony Alford. After spending three seasons at Utah State, he then transferred to BYU in 2025, making 21 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack for the Cougars. He does have five career starts, making him a more experienced player than most in the linebacker room, but watching some film of him makes me think he will be a step or two too slow to play for the Wolverines. I think his biggest role will be as a mentor to younger players as they learn defensive coordinator Jay Hill's defense, since Hill was BYU's defensive coordinator.

#87. Jacob Washington - WR - Marrero (LA) Archbishop Shaw: Washington is a 6'3", 197 lb. redshirt freshman after playing in just two games in 2025. High school teammate Jasper Parker spent one season in Ann Arbor before going back down south to play for Arkansas this fall, and Washington looks to be pretty solidly mired as a backup for the 2026 season behind several players. From the buzz coming out of practice, it appears that freshman Travis Johnson has passed up Washington on the depth chart, too. There will probably not be a ton of playing time available for Washington this fall unless there are some injury problems.

#88. Luke Hamilton - OG - Avon (OH) Avon: Hamilton is a 6'5", 319 lb. redshirt sophomore now. After two years on campus, his only game appearance has been in the 63-3 blowout of Central Michigan in 2025. Word coming out of practices has been that Michigan has about eight different guys who could start this fall, but Hamilton hasn't really been mentioned much by insiders and appears to be on the outside looking in when it comes to getting meaningful playing time this fall. If he spends a third year at Michigan barely getting on the field, things will be looking pretty bleak for his future in Ann Arbor.

#89. Daniel Taraboi - OT - Cedarburg (WI) Cedarburg: Taraboi is a 6'7", 328 lb. fifth year senior who is a former walk-on. He has played in one game in each of his seasons on the roster. His best chance to play may be on the extra point/field goal protection unit, but Michigan has enough depth that Taraboi probably won't get on the field much as the coaching staff tries to develop younger players for action in 2027.

#90. Brooks Bahr - OG - Lake Forest (IL) Loyola: Wow, Bahr's career has gone by quickly. As I began typing up this post, I was still thinking of Bahr as a redshirt sophomore, but he's actually going into his fourth year on campus. After starting his career as a defensive end, he moved to the offensive side of the ball a year ago and is now listed as a 6'5", 312 lb. offensive lineman. He does not appear to be much of a factor in the discussion for playing time this fall, and somewhat like Taraboi, he may be most likely to play on a special teams protection unit.

2026 Season Countdown: #91-95

 

Tomas O'Meara (image via X)

#91. McHale Blade - DE - Chicago (IL) Simeon: Blade is a 6'4", 245 lb. true freshman who finished the cycle as a 4-star, the #47 defensive lineman, and #437 overall. He's very physical and a little heavy-footed at times, so he may end up kind of like a Cameron Brandt player, but I think fans will appreciate his toughness. He has had some injury issues in high school, but Michigan will need a young edge or two to step up in 2026 as depth pieces. Blade and 5-star Carter Meadows appear to be likely candidates to see the field as backups this season.

#92. Tomas O'Meara - RB - Ann Arbor (MI) Gabriel Richard: Now a redshirt sophomore, O'Meara was called into action against Maryland in 2025 when there were some injury issues with Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall. He performed admirably with 8 carries for 71 yards, including a 37-yarder. Michigan won admirably and O'Meara was able to take the load off some other guys a little bit as the season wore along.

#93. Julius Holly - DE - Alpharetta (GA) Alpharetta: Holly is a 6'4", 230 lb. redshirt freshman who played in the Cheez-It Bowl against Texas during his only appearance in 2025. He seems to have a little way to go before he reaches a playable weight for a 6'4" edge defender, and there hasn't really been any buzz about him coming out of practice. This will probably be another developmental year for him as he continues to add weight and sits behind several experienced players.

#94. Mason Bonner - TE - Denver (CO) Mullen: Bonner was a so-so recruit coming out of high school in 2026, ranked as a 3-star, the #26 tight end, and #526 overall. He was listed as a 6'6", 200 lb. recruit, but Michigan now lists him at 6'7" and 225 lbs. He made 47 catches for 767 yards and 6 touchdowns as a senior last season, but he now enters a pretty solid group of tight ends. I wouldn't put it past him to earn some playing time this season if the added weight is legitimate, but it seems the super tall tight end types take a couple years to figure out their strength, coordination, route running, etc.

#95. Tariq Boney - DE - Washington (DC) St. John's: Boney is a 4-star, the #32 edge, and the #313 player overall in the 2026 class. He made 48 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 6 pass breakups as a senior in 2025. Now listed at 6'2", 245 lbs., he could potentially break into the lineup as a freshman. I will be interested to see how Michigan and new defensive coordinator Jay Hill deploys his players, and whether he tries to adjust to the Big Ten by playing bigger players at Michigan than he did elsewhere. It's difficult to get on the field as a short-ish freshman edge, because players like him have to learn how to deal with the reach disadvantage. But I could see his quickness being used in certain situations.

2026 Season Countdown: #96-100

 

Titan Davis (image via X)

#96. Jeffrey Chukwu - CB - Severna Park (MD) Severna Park: Chukwu is a 6'2", 195 lb. redshirt sophomore who walked on to the team in 2025. He did not play in any games, but he was named Scout Team Special Teams Player of the Week three times during the year. Chukwu appears to have been more of a soccer player in high school than a football standout, but his Hudl profile did list him with a 4.5 forty. There might be some things to work with her on special teams, but he is probably not a threat to play much defensive back this season.

#97. Titan Davis - DT - St. Louis (MO) DeSmet: Davis is listed at 6'4", 275 lbs. on the MGoBlue roster as a freshman defensive lineman. He finished the recruiting cycle as a 4-star, the #11 defensive lineman, and #95 overall. Davis started his high school career as a quarterback and transitioned to the defensive line, and I do tend to like former quarterbacks who play other positions . . . so I have some high hopes for Davis down the road. Right now he seems like kind of a tweener between defensive end and defensive tackle, and the (in)consistency of his play makes me think he might be a bit of a project for down the road, but someone with high upside. He will have to get off the ball quicker and use his hands better, but Davis could flash this season, depending on how quickly he learns to play on the interior. He's ranked pretty low right now, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him make a big jump in next year's countdown.

#98. Crandall Quinn - TE - Grand Rapids (MI) Forest Hills Central: Quinn is a 6'2", 238 lb. former member of Michigan's lacrosse team. He joined the football team in 2025 and appeared in one game at tight end. Michigan should be in a little less tight end-heavy personnel this season because of their expanded depth at the wide receiver position, and Quinn likely isn't going to force himself onto the field.

#99. Randy Keugmone - DE - Oakdale (MN) Tartan: Keugmone is a 6'2", 237 lb. defensive end who spent five years playing football at South Dakota State. He then joined Michigan in 2025 and is back for the 2026 season, using the COVID waiver and apparently getting some extra eligibility from an injury earlier in his career. He has played in 38 career football games, but he only played in one game in 2025. He will likely be a scout team player in 2026.

#100. Ace Hamilton - C - Washington (DC) St. John's: Hamilton is listed at 6'3", 295 lbs. as a freshman center and earned some buzz during spring practice. It's notoriously difficult to play center as a freshman, so I don't think he'll see the field much at all, especially if the guys in front of him stay healthy. He finished the 2026 recruiting cycle as a 3-star, the #47 interior offensive lineman, and #607 overall, but I have a feeling he will outplay his ranking by the time his career is over. The aforementioned lack of experience will probably be too big of a hurdle to overcome this year.

2026 Season Countdown: #101-105

 

Bryce Wilcox (image via X)

#101. Christian Pierce - LB - Chicago (IL) Brother Rice: Pierce is a 6'0", 235 lb. linebacker and the younger brother of fourth-year defensive tackle Trey Pierce. Christian spent last season at Western Illinois and made 100 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, and 7 quarterback hurries, so he has a fair amount of playing time for a sophomore linebacker. I have not heard about him being talked up much from spring practices, and the jump from being a Western Illinois Leatherneck to playing in Michigan Stadium is fairly significant. Maybe some more experience at the FBS level will push him up the depth chart in the coming years, but for now, I'm thinking he will be a backup.

#102. Joshua Nichols - CB - Detroit (MI) Renaissance: Nichols is a 5'10", 205 lb. fifth year senior who has played in just one game during his first four years on campus. After being listed as a safety earlier in his career, he is now listed as a cornerback. We have seen him play a little bit in spring games, and his foot speed is not where it needs to be to play cornerback, so we're not looking at a walk-on like Keshaun Harris who could be in line for some legitimate playing time. Nichols will possibly be a special teams player or a deep bench player.

#103. James Kavouklis - C/LS - Tampa (FL) Berkeley Prep: Kavouklis is now listed at 6'1", 295 lbs. and played in one game against Central Michigan in 2025. Long snappers don't typically play offensive line because they have to get downfield on punt coverage, but Kavouklis is an exception. Michigan has some depth at center and Kavouklis will probably be the #3 long snapper, so he's unlikely to play much in 2026.

#104. Zach Ludwig - LB - South Park (PA) South Park: Ludwig is a 6'2", 225 lb. redshirt sophomore who played in one game last season, which was in the blowout of Central Michigan. The nephew of former Michigan strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert, it's been a little surprising that Ludwig - who didn't have much of a recruiting profile - has stuck around the past couple seasons. But he has added about 20 pounds in the past couple years and is approaching a playable linebacker weight. He will most likely be buried down the depth chart, but he enters year three actually looking like a linebacker.

#105. Bryce Wilcox - WR - Sharpsburg (GA) Trinity Christian: Gosh darn it, I have been in Wilcox's fan club since he came out of high school, and now it's year five for him and he hasn't played much at all. He's now listed at 5'11" and 191 lbs. and was named the Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Year in 2025. Maybe playing receiver isn't in the cards, but I'm hoping for Wilcox to have one of those walk-on moments in 2026 where he recovers a blocked punt for a touchdown or something like that.

2026 Season Countdown: #106-110

 

Ndi Etta (image via X)

#105. John Weidenbach - LB - Naperville (IL) Benet Academy: Weidenbach is a 6'0", 215 lb. redshirt junior who has been on the team for the past three seasons. He saw his first game action in 2025, playing some linebacker against Central Michigan in the 63-3 blowout. Weidenbach won't play a meaningful role in 2026, but he could be in line for some garbage time opportunities.

#106. Kaleb Schlecht - WR - Ann Arbor (MI) Skyline: Schlecht is a 6'4", 205 lb. wideout who saw his first playing time against Central Michigan in 2025. He has good size, but even going back to high school, his speed and athleticism didn't indicate an FBS contributor. He may be able to play some as a blocking wideout, but Michigan seems to have enough bodies at wide receiver to keep Schlecht on the sideline.

#107. Ndi Etta - LB - Keller (TX) Liberty Christian: Etta is the 6'2", 215 lb. younger brother of Michigan defensive tackle Enow Etta. Michigan jumped into his recruitment late and landed him over a few MAC schools and Sacramento State. Ndi lacks the quick twitch ability of a true linebacker, and he doesn't have the size to contribute at defensive end right now, so this is almost certainly going to be a developmental year. Perhaps he can contribute down the road, but we will see how his body develops. Enow grew from a good-sized edge prospect into a good looking defensive tackle, so there is a family history of packing on good weight.

#108. Tommy Fraumann - OT - Wilmette (IL) Loyola: Fraumann is a true freshman whom Michigan flipped from Miami-OH. While he was listed at 6'8" and 255-265 lbs. as a recruit, he is reportedly around 280 lbs. now. That still makes him unplayable at offensive tackle, but he's inching toward a respectable size. Michigan has not had great luck with super tall offensive tackles over the years, but occasionally you get a Taylor Lewan, which can be fun.

#109. Sam Baron - CB - Cadillac (MI) Lake Area: Baron is a 6'1", 188 lb. redshirt junior who just joined the football team as a walk-on in the spring. His father Phil played football at Michigan State back in the day, but his mom - who must be an awesome person - attended Michigan. It's very unlikely that someone who hasn't played football in three years will make any contributions, but as a more mature team member, maybe some opportunities can arise.

Ryan Jung, Wolverine

 

Kerry Coombs and Milton (GA) Milton K Ryan Jung (image via X)

Milton (GA) Milton kicker Ryan Jung committed to Michigan, becoming the first member of Michigan’s 2028 recruiting class.

The 6'2", 195 lb. Jung went 4/5 on field goal attempts as a sophomore in 2025, with a long of 46. He made 50/62 extra points and 36/66 kickoffs were touchbacks.

RANKINGS
Kohl's Kicking: 5-star, #1 kicker

Hit the jump for more.

Visitors: June 12-14, 2026

 

Joshua Dobson (image via X)

Khylan Davis - QB - Houston (TX) C.E. King: Davis (unranked) is a 6'0", 193 lb. prospect who has been committed to UTSA since April. He threw for 2,428 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions as a junior in 2025, and he also ran for 1,218 yards and 23 touchdowns. This is an official visit.

Joshua Dobson - CB - Cornelius (NC) Hough: Dobson (5-star, #2 CB, #17 overall) is a 6'1", 185-pounder with officials to Auburn, South Carolina, and Tennessee, along with this one to Michigan. He is scheduled to commit on July 1.

Ifeanyi Emedobi - DE - Fort Wayne (IN) Northrop: Emedobi (4-star, #36 edge, #406 overall) is a 6'1", 210 lb. prospect with Michigan, Minnesota, and Penn State as his official visits. He made 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks as a junior in 2025.

Frederrick Ford - LB - Greenwood (MS) Greenwood: Ford (4-star, #17 LB, #225 overall) is a 6'5", 190-pounder with Florida State, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, and Tennessee as officials, and he took a mid-week official visit to Michigan this week. He basically plays a strong safety role for his high school team, but he's a little bit stiff and will almost certainly end up at linebacker or perhaps edge rusher in college.

Tye Kennedy - OT - Mesa (AZ) Mountain View: Kennedy (3-star, #57 OT, #627 overall) is a 6'6", 275 lb. tackle who is the son of former NFL star offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy (and the brother of former Michigan target Zach Banner, who played for the USC Trojans). Tye has officials to Stanford, Utah, and Washington, along with this one to Ann Arbor.

D.J. Mitchell - CB - Indianapolis (IN) Franklin Central: Mitchell (3-star, #134 CB, #1492 overall) has been committed to Miami-OH since mid-March. He took an official at Miami-OH and has one next week to Purdue. This is his official visit to Michigan.

2026 Season Countdown: #111-115

 

Gary Stacy (#22, image via Hometown Life)

#111. Hunter Robertson - P - Huntington Woods (MI) Berkley: Robertson is a 6'4", 205 lb. punter who transferred to Michigan from Clarion prior to last season. He got in one game as a backup holder, but he seems to have at least two punters ahead of him in the forms of Cam Brown and Hudson Hollenbeck. He has some experience at the D-II level with punting, placekicking, and kicking off, so perhaps he can help as a holder, kickoff specialist, or backup in some way.

#112. Gary Stacy - RB - Grosse Pointe Woods (MI) Liggett: Stacy is a 6'1", 202 lb. walk-on who will be a redshirt freshman this fall. He scored 37 touchdowns over his final two seasons of high school football. His highlights are kind of a fun watch, and I see some potential there to possibly be a special teams player, fullback, or linebacker. He's too thin at this point to do much of anything this fall, but if he can stick around for a couple years and add 20 pounds of muscle, he might be able to bring something to the team on Saturdays.

#113. Adam Bazzi - LB - Rochester Hills (MI) Stoney Creek: The 5'11", 205 lb. redshirt sophomore was a walk-on for Michigan's team in 2025 but did not see any game action. Bazzi made 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks as a senior in high school a few years ago, but his film doesn't indicate that he will much of a factor for the Wolverines.

#114. Eli Musmand - DE - Brooklyn (NY) Poly Prep Country Day: Musmand is a second-year student who is listed as a 6'3", 223 lb. defensive end. He joined the program this spring. While his high school film from a couple seasons ago shows a high-effort player, he is limited athletically and obviously has a lot of weight to add before he could be trusted to hold up for a Big Ten team.

#115. Peter Donini - OT - Summit (NJ) Delbarton: Donini is another walk-on this spring and is a 6'7", 270 lb. true freshman. He's a thrower for Michigan's track and field team, so there is some quality athleticism there, but a 270-pounder isn't anywhere close to playing offensive line for the University of Michigan at this point. 

Visitor: May 29-31, 2026

 

Niko Kampas (image via SI)

Niko Kampas - OT - London (England) NFL Academy: Kampas (4-star, #31 OT, #317 overall) is a 6'7", 279 lb. international prospect who has an official visit to Auburn and then one to Ann Arbor this weekend. Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and others have also offered, but the aforementioned two spots are his only scheduled officials. Kampas is originally from Germany, and Michigan has successfully recruited the likes of former defensive end Julius Welschof and current offensive lineman Manuel Beigel.

A couple other players like Bolingbrook (IL) Bolingbrook running back T.J. Lewis and Westlake Village (CA) Westlake tight end Charles Davis were slated to take officials at one point, but Davis has committed to Cal in the meantime and it appears Lewis may not be much of a factor now that Michigan has two running back commitments.

Way Too Early 2027 Depth Chart: May 2026

 

Jyaire Hill (image via X)

The following depth chart is intended to show what players exist at what positions, which also shows the needs from the transfer portal and the remainder of the 2027 recruiting class. I have removed the following players due to expiring eligibility:

• QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi
• DE Cam Brandt
• DT Trey Pierce
• LB Nate Staehling
• CB Zeke Berry
• CB Snowden Smith
• S Rod Moore
• LS Nico Crawford

It assumes that every currently rostered player and every currently committed prospect will be here in the fall of 2027, which is obviously not true.

Hit the jump for the depth chart.

Tavares Harrington, Wolverine

 

Chicago (IL) Mt. Carmel CB Tavares Harrington and WR Quentin Burrell

Chicago (IL) Mount Carmel defensive back Tavares Harrington committed to Michigan on Friday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, and others.

Harrington is listed at 6'3", 175 lbs. As a junior in 2025, he made 50 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 9 pass breakups.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 82 grade, #13 CB, #102 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 91 grade, #14 S, #169 overall
247 Sports: 4-star, 90 grade, #25 CB, #190 overall

Hit the jump for more.

Colt Lumpris, Wolverine

 

Lawrenceville (NJ) The Lawrenceville School TE Colt Lumpris (image via TDA)

Lawrenceville (NJ) The Lawrenceville School tight end Colt Lumpris has flipped his commitment from Alabama to Michigan. Florida, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, Tennessee, and others had offered Lumpris.

Lumpris is listed at 6'6" and 249 lbs. As a junior in 2025, he caught 44 passes for 812 yards and 8 touchdowns.

RANKINGS
ESPN: 4-star, 80 grade, #9 TE-H, #216 overall
Rivals: 4-star, 90 grade, #11 TE, #277 overall
247 Sports: 3-star, 89 grade, #16 TE

Hit the jump for more.

Lundon Hampton, Wolverine

 

Grand Rapids (MI) Kenowa Hills RB Lundon Hampton (image via On3)

Thanks to David, Javier, Joel, and Sean for the recent Paypal donations! You guys are awesome!

Grand Rapids (MI) Kenowa Hills running back Lundon Hampton committed Michigan on Thursday. He picked the Wolverines over offers from Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, and others.

Hampton is listed at 6'2", 195 lbs. As a junior in 2025, he ran for 1,266 yards, had 588 receiving yards, and scored 26 total touchdowns.

Michigan was one of the first major programs to recruit him primarily as a running back, and Hampton becomes the second RB in the 2027 class alongside four-star Tyson Robinson.

RANKINGS
ESPN: Unranked
Rivals: 3-star, 87 grade, #24 ATH
247 Sports: 3-star, 86 grade, #96 ATH

Hit the jump for more.