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:
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.
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.)
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
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.
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.
Name: Jyaire Hill Height: 6’2″ Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Kankakee (IL) Kankakee Position: Cornerback Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #20 Last year: I ranked Hill #9 and said he would be a starting cornerback with 40 tackles and 2 interceptions (LINK). He started thirteen games and made 36 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, and 5 pass breakups. TTB Rating: 88
The big question heading into Hill's 2025 season was whether he had made the necessary jumps in maturity and preparation to be a #1 cornerback. By all accounts, that seemed to have happened, and it showed on the field. There appeared to be fewer missed tackles and fewer busted coverages coming from Hill's side of the field. He notched an interception against Ohio State and was named the team's Defensive Skill Player of the Year, which was a decent accomplishment, considering one of his teammates was Zeke Berry.
I ranked Hill #9 last year and maybe he's deserving of being higher than #8 this season. After all, I have yet to get to the aforementioned Berry. I would like to think that new defensive coordinator Jay Hill could use scheme and personnel - such as Shamari Earls - to work around the proven depth issues at cornerback. Michigan also has a few somewhat inexperienced corners like Jo'ziah Edmond, Jamarion Vincent, Jeremiah Lowe, and others to fill the void at outside corner. The Wolverines need one of those guys to step up this season, and I think that will happen, though I'm not sure which one. Regardless, I think Hill will be a very solid cornerback this season, and Michigan will need him as they face Dante Moore of Oregon, Julian Sayin of Ohio State, John Mateer of Oklahoma, and other solid quarterbacks.
Name: J.J. Buchanan Height: 6'4" Weight: 218 lbs. High school: Henderson (NV) Covenant Position: Wide receiver Class: Sophomore Jersey number: #6 Last year: Buchanan played at Utah. He caught 26 passes for 427 yards and 5 touchdowns while starting seven games. TTB Rating: N/A
Buchanan was a lightly regarded tight end recruiting coming out of high school and was listed by Utah as a tight end in 2025, but he didn't play tight end. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck moved him all around the field, playing him in the slot, outside, snug to the line, etc. He showed a really impressive ability to adjust to short throws and especially balls thrown behind him, and his hands are outstanding. At 6'4" with long arms and strong hands, he's a problem for opponents because of the size advantage against most defensive backs.
Michigan needed help at wide receiver after frankly being pretty bad at receiver in 2025. Michigan has not recruited extremely well at wide receiver in the past couple classes outside of Andrew Marsh, and the inability to throw the ball also goes back to having starting quarterbacks named Davis Warren and Alex Orji, along with a young true freshman Bryce Underwood last year. Kendrick Bell and Channing Goodwin don't strike fear into opponents, so Michigan brought in Buchanan - a size mismatch - and Jaime Ffrench (Texas) and Salesi Moa (Utah). Between Buchanan and Marsh as the top two and then whoever they decide the #3 and #4 receivers will be, the Wolverines should be much improved in 2026.
I wanted to save Buchanan for later and thought long and hard about whether to rank him higher than Andrew Marsh, but ultimately, I think Marsh is the field stretcher and perhaps special teams contributor (kick/punt returner) who could be more difficult to replace. Underwood developed a good rapport with Marsh during the second half of last season, and this spring/summer, it looks like Underwood has done the same with Buchanan. While it should be a run-focused offense, it looks like Michigan will be able to create some big plays and more consistent chunk gains through the air this fall.
Name: Enow Etta Height: 6'5" Weight: 328 lbs. High school: Keller (TX) Covenant Christian Academy Position: Defensive tackle Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #17 Last year: I ranked Etta #43 and said he would be a backup defensive tackle (LINK). He made 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 1 pass breakup. TTB Rating: 87
Etta was a tweener defensive tackle/defensive end coming out of high school in 2023, so he spent some time insisting he was an edge player even when he was hovering close to 300 pounds. There were either going to have to be some major body composition changes or he was headed for defensive tackle, and the latter happened. He spent most of 2024 standing straight up and getting pushed around, so he was a work in progress. Last season the light started to come on a little bit, but the production wasn't there. For a top-100-ish recruit not to flash more when the other defensive tackles were so-so was a little disappointing. Overall, 15 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack isn't awful for a backup defensive tackle, but I had hoped for more out of Etta by year three.
Now it's year four, and Michigan for sure needs more out of Etta. There's no more time to lurk behind Rayshaun Benny or anyone else. Etta has excellent size and athleticism, but things need to start coming together. There aren't many proven options on the defensive front, and defensive tackle might be the most concerning position on the team. I would like to rank Etta higher, but I haven't seen him produce enough on the field to determine whether he's head-and-shoulders above the other guys at the position. Etta almost left Michigan this off-season and supposedly could have got paid handsomely, but he was convinced to return to the Wolverines (likely with a healthy NIL offer) and now he has a chance to show he was worth the bidding war.
Name: Andrew Sprague Height: 6'7" Weight: 310 lbs. High school: Kansas City (MO) Rockhurst Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #54 Last year: I ranked Sprague #11 and said he would be the starting right tackle. He started twelve games at right tackle. TTB Rating: 89
Sprague was one of those somewhat rare true freshman offensive linemen who starts to get some buzz during his freshman year. It only turned into four appearances - including a start in the short-handed bowl game against Alabama - but it was noteworthy. So going into the 2025 season, it seemed pretty clear that he would play a role in the starting five. When he came out of high school, I thought he could end up as a left tackle in college, but so far he has stuck on the right side. He started twelve games last fall and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten.
This past off-season, Sprague jumped into the transfer portal and seemed as good as gone, perhaps to a place like Texas. But with Michigan hiring Kyle Whittingham and bringing in standout offensive line coach Jim Harding - who produced two first round offensive tackles in the NFL draft this spring - Sprague decided to stay. The Wolverines have a very young offense and Sprague is actually the most veteran offensive lineman, having started thirteen games now at the FBS level. He was inconsistent at times last season, but he should be one year better this fall for a team that will be offensive line-dependent with a heavy dose of the running game. If Michigan is able to ground and pound like they want to do, Sprague should get some looks as an All-Big Ten performer.
Name: Smith Snowden Height: 5'10″ Weight: 188 lbs. High school: Lehi (UT) Skyridge Position: Cornerback Class: Senior Jersey number: #3 Last year: Snowden played at Utah. He started thirteen games on defense (and started two of those games on offense as well) with 37 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, 13 catches for 57 yards, and 8 carries for 40 yards and 1 touchdown.
Michigan lost a lot from the defensive backfield in the transition from Sherrone Moore to Kyle Whittingham. T.J. and Tevis Metcalf decided to get out of town, and so did Brandyn Hillman (Virginia) and Jayden Sanders (now at Notre Dame). So the Wolverines needed to refill the talent pool, and one of the players they decided to bring in was Smith Snowden, a rarity in college football who is capable of playing both ways. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck used him on different kinds of jet sweeps and bubbles, and he was a mainstay at cornerback on defense.
I know some people are excited about Snowden's potential, but I have some reservations about his ability to compete against the better teams in the Big Ten. There still seems to be some question about whether he will start in the slot or outside, but he's seen as a starter, regardless. After spending some time over the past few months watching him play, I think his tackling and ability to take on blocks could give him a lower ceiling than some think. This is not to say that I think he will be a hole in the defense, but I'm pumping the brakes a little bit on some of the hype I have seen.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill has talked about three guys having the potential to play in the slot (Snowden, Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry), and it sounds like Shamari Earls has been playing well on the outside as the #3 corner. I think it will be important for the cornerbacks to stay healthy, because Michigan has a solid top four and then complete unknowns. We will see a lot of Snowden this fall, perhaps even at punt returner or kickoff returner. And I will be interested to see if Michigan tries to use him on bubble screens and jets like he was used in Salt Lake City, but I'm guessing his offensive usage will be minimal because Michigan has more talent at receiver than Utah had in 2025.
Name: Rod Moore Height: 5'11″ Weight: 190 lbs. High school: Clayton (OH) Northmont Position: Safety Class: Sixth year senior Jersey number: #1 Last year: I ranked Moore #20 and said he would be a starting safety if healthy. He made 6 tackles and 1 interception while starting one game and playing in three.
Rod Moore has seemingly been around Michigan forever, to the point where I remember watching his high school film during the COVID pandemic while sitting around the house and twiddling my thumbs. If one can be a hero of an Ohio State victory . . . and also a somewhat out-of-sight, out-of-mind entity, well, that's kind of Rod Moore.
After being named a Third Team All-Big Ten safety in 2023 (38 tackles, 2 interceptions), he seemed primed for a big 2024 when he got injured in the off-season. A potential NFL career was derailed - or perhaps just postponed - as Moore stuck around and rehabbed while missing the entire 2024 season. He then had some setbacks putting his 2025 season in jeopardy.
But he returned triumphantly with an interception in his second game of the 2025 season with an interception against Wisconsin! The next week, he started against USC, made 4 tackles, and . . . was not seen again. Another setback with the knee knocked him out for the remained of 2025.
So now we're entering 2026 and Moore supposedly feels better than he has at any point since 2023. He has been named a captain for a third year. Defensive coordinator Jay Hill says Moore is a shoo-in to start at safety, and he has been wearing the "green dot" much of the time as the primary communicator on the defensive side of the ball in practice. I believe he has now had three separate surgeries, but Michigan is looking at him as a focal point for 2026. There's probably an argument to be made that a defensive captain should be ranked higher than #13 in the countdown, and I could probably argue that someone who has missed most of the past two seasons could be ranked lower because he just hasn't produced much lately.
I think all Michigan fans are hoping that Moore can have a healthy season, even if he doesn't quite return to 2023 form. After so much frustration and so many setbacks, it would be nice if he can just play a full season of football and complete his mission. I'm hoping for an All-American type season, but if he stays healthy, I'm thinking he could once again be a Third Team or Honorable Mention all-conference player and that would be a nice way for him to ride off into the Big House sunset.
Name: Blake Frazier Height: 6'6" Weight: 302 lbs. High school: Austin (TX) Vandegrift Position: Offensive tackle Class: Redshirt sophomore Jersey number: #77 Last year: I ranked Frazier #36 and said he would be a backup offensive tackle (LINK). He started eight games and played in all thirteen games. TTB Rating: 89
Legacy offensive lineman Blake Frazier got his first taste of playing a big role in the Big House last fall. The son of former Michigan center Steve Frazier, Blake was a in a three-headed battle for the left tackle job against Evan Link and Andrew Babalola. Babalola hurt his knee in camp, and Link hurt his leg partway through the season, so the last man standing was Frazier. Frazier was already starting as the sixth lineman in jumbo packages, so it made sense for him to slide in as a starter at left tackle. But that was still a tall task for a young guy who came in with a ton of potential but lacking bulk. He showed good feet and awareness last season, but there were times where he flat-out got overpowered.
The hope for 2026 is that he's no longer getting overpowered after another off-season in the weight room. There has been a lot of talk about the work of new strength coach Doug Elisaia and guys increasing their lifts significantly. Frazier is still only 302 pounds, so he's a little bit light to expect elite play at this point. I would like to see him up around 310-315 pounds when all is said and done, but he's still just a third-year player. It sounds like Frazier will be the starting left tackle, with Link playing left guard and Andrew Babalola playing a backup or Rhino (extra lineman) role. The group has an excellent offensive line coach in Jim Harding, so if Frazier is indeed the choice at left tackle, that probably bodes well for Frazier's potential to finish out his career and possibly get to the NFL.
Name: Savion Hiter Height: 5'11" Weight: 212 lbs. High school: Mineral (VA) Louisa County Position: Running back Class: Freshman Jersey number: #5 Last year: Hiter was a senior in high school (LINK). He ran for 1,445 yards and 25 touchdowns. TTB Rating: N/A
Having dipped my toe into recruiting for the last couple decades now, it's hard to say much is certain, but I feel like I can say this pretty confidently:
It's hard to think of a high school recruit who has engendered this much hype or, perhaps, innate confidence than Savion Hiter.
Everyone just talks about Hiter like it's a given that he will be a good player immediately in college. There was hype for Bryce Underwood, but quarterbacks always have growing pains as freshmen. People were excited about Will Johnson, but he was joining a pretty solid defensive backfield and had time to grow and develop into the second half of his first year. Nobody expects much from freshman linebackers or guys in the trenches.
But Hiter, according to some, would be starting at most places right now. He's discussed as a guy who might be Michigan's #1 running back by the end of the season and someone who looks like an NFL running back already. That's high praise for a guy who has yet to take a college snap.
Regardless of whether Hiter is ready now or not, he needs to play. Michigan does not have great depth at running back, at least not of the proven variety. While they tried to bring in a couple veterans in 2025 (C.J. Hester, John Volker) to help the 1-2 punch of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, this year the staff is relying on homegrown talent, including former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal. Marshall will presumably start off as the main guy, and then there's Hiter. After that there's Kuzdzal, who has good speed and patience but not much tackle breaking ability, and then a few guys who have never played college football before. At some point this season, Hiter will be needed for some key carries.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Hiter can do in college. I really liked his acceleration in high school, and he brings some physicality with him. I'm not so sure that he will become the #1 guy by the end of the year like some think will happen, but if the duo of Marshall and Hiter can stay relatively healthy throughout the year, this should be the best running back combo in the Big Ten conference.
Name: Trey Butkowski Height: 5'11" Weight: 179 lbs. High school: Orlando (FL) Lake Nona Position: Kicker Class: Sophomore Jersey number: #99 Last year: Butkowski played for Pitt. He made 19/22 field goals and 41/42 extra points. TTB Rating: N/A
Butkowski was a 3-star and the #6 overall kicker in the 247 Composite for the class of 2025. Immediately upon arriving at Pitt, he won the starting kicker job for Pat Narduzzi's squad and proceeded to make 19/22 on field goal attempts, including six makes from 40+ yards. He also made 41/42 extra points and was named to the Lou Groza Award semifinalist list.
Michigan needed a new starting kicker after Dominic Zvada departed for the NFL, so the Wolverines mined Pitt for a new kicker (as well as new long snapper Nico Crawford). Butkowski should be stepping right into a new starting role, because the Wolverines haven't really recruited any other significant kickers in the past couple classes. It probably makes sense to try to poach proven kickers rather than guessing on a high schooler in the current college football climate, so Butkowski is the man for 2026.
The knock on Butkowski is that he doesn't necessarily have the strongest leg, so perhaps Michigan will be attempting fewer kicks from 50+ yards than they did with Zvada. But we should expect him to be accurate on the short to medium kicks, and with several tough opponents this season, some of his kicks in close games could make or break Michigan's College Football Playoff hopes.
Name: Evan Link Height: 6'6" Weight: 313 lbs. High school: Washington (DC) Gonzaga Position: Offensive tackle/offensive guard Class: Redshirt junior Jersey number: #71 Last year: I ranked Link #18 and said he would be the starting left tackle (LINK). He started seven games at left tackle. TTB Rating: 72
Evan Link had a much better season in 2025 than he did in 2024, and that was reflected in my countdown post from last year. As a redshirt freshman in Kirk Campbell's lone season as offensive coordinator, Link was thrust into the starting right tackle role and he looked stiff and unsure of himself. A former high school left tackle, he looked awkward and got put on his butt several times. Some may not believe it, but it's a whole different world at right tackle, where the footwork, hand placement, etc. are completely opposite. Some might say it's the same thing but just in reverse, so it's no big deal, and to that I would say . . . okay, take a right-handed batter or a right-handed first baseman and then in one off-season when he's 20 years old, make him bat or field left-handed. The baseball example is more dramatic, but it's not irrelevant.
Link started the first seven games at left tackle, and he looked pretty solid. He wasn't blowing people off the ball, but he was fine. And "fine" was much better than "horrid" in 2024. And then just when Link was settling in, he suffered a leg injury that caused him to miss the rest of the year.
Now Michigan has a new coaching staff, and while Link was gone, Blake Frazier got some experience at left tackle. Furthermore, Andrew Babalola - who suffered an ACL tear during camp in 2025 - is now healthy and competing at left tackle. Link has reportedly been getting reps at left tackle this fall, but it appears that Frazier will win that spot and Link will end up starting at left guard. Regardless, I think Link is one of Michigan's top five linemen, so I think new offensive line coach Jim Harding will slot him in somewhere as a starter. The nice thing is that the Wolverines have a couple players like Nate Efobi, Brady Norton, and Avery Gach who all sound like they're pushing for playing time, so whoever loses the right guard job should be a decent backup option.
Name: Chris Bracy Height: 6'1" Weight: 200 lbs. High school: Mobile (AL) St. Paul's Episcopal Position: Safety Class: Senior Jersey number: #7 Last year: Bracy played at Memphis. He started eleven games and made 81 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 10 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery. TTB Rating: N/A
Michigan has frankly done an excellent job of recruiting safeties in recent years.
There was a lamentable time when the Wolverines stunk pretty badly at finding and developing safeties, from the mid-2000s through the early 2010s. Names like Michael Williams, Brandon Harrison, Cam Gordon, etc. all floundered on the back end of Michigan's defense, and even elite recruits like Dymonte Thomas looked lost in the defensive backfield until Jim Harbaugh arrived.
That's not the case anymore. Or at least it hasn't been for a while.
Michigan has pretty consistently been getting good safety play for the past several years, recruiting good players and then developing them into NFL-quality contributors. So when the Wolverines looked to Memphis to bring in Chris Bracy, it raised my eyebrows a little bit, because why does Michigan need a Memphis transfer when they have Mason Curtis on the roster, as well as young, highly regarded recruits like Jordan Young and Kainoa Winston?
Well, it turns out this Chris Bracy guy is supposed to be pretty good. After being coached by former Michigan linebacker Desmond Morgan, the safeties coach for Memphis, Bracy went out and put up 81 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2025. He graded out excellent at stopping the run, and he broke up 10 passes last season, too. He was named American Conference Defensive Player of the Week against an SEC team (Arkansas) when he made 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup.
Now Bracy arrived at Michigan in the spring and he picked up where he left off at Memphis. He pretty much asserted himself immediately as a starting safety to the point where head coach Kyle Whittingham said over the summer that Bracy and Rod Moore had essentially locked down the starting safety positions. Young and Winston are just going to have to wait in the wings for another year - barring injury - and Bracy should be a run-stopping force from the strong safety position. So after Michigan lost head-hunter Brandyn Hillman (Virginia) and Tevis Metcalf (Tennessee) to the transfer portal, they might be better off with Bracy and the return of a healthy Moore in 2026.
I expect Bracy to be a bit like former Wolverine Jordan Kovacs, somebody who isn't going to wow with his range but who should make quite a few plays within three yards of the line of scrimmage.
Name: Cam Brandt Height: 6'3" Weight: 270 lbs. High school: Carson (CA) Sierra Canyon Position: Defensive end Class: Senior Jersey number: #9 Last year: I ranked Brandt #29 and said he would be a backup defensive end (LINK). He started one game and made 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks. TTB Rating: 82
In the days if the transfer portal, it certainly feels like Cam Brandt has been in Ann Arbor for a long time. We're getting used to non-contributors dipping out of town quickly, transplanted starters coming in to play immediately, and shorter tenures for the average player. But now it's year four for Brandt at Michigan, and he finally enters the season as a likely starter.
Michigan has had quality edges for a while now, and Brandt had to wait his turn behind the likes of T.J. Guy, Derrick Moore, Josaiah Stewart, and others. At one time it looked like Brandt might end up as a defensive tackle, but he enters 2026 at a solid size of 270 lbs. for a strongside end. Michigan probably won't get a ton of pass rush juice from Brandt, but he is experienced and has the size that many of his 245-255 lb. position mates lack. With Utah transfer John Henry Daley a shoo-in to start on one side (as long as he's healthy), it should be between Brandt and Dominic Nichols to start at the other end position.
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.
#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.
