ANN ARBOR, Mich. — This spring is not exactly a blank slate for Michigan football players, but it’s close.
These 15 practices are a chance for players to make an impression on a coaching staff that is getting its first hands-on evaluation of the roster. Coach Kyle Whittingham knows what he’s getting from the four players who started for him at Utah, and he’s had time to study everyone else on film. Spring practice is a chance for players to confirm what Whittingham believes about them or, in some cases, change the narrative.
“You want to give everyone a chance to prove themselves with a new staff,” Whittingham said. “By the same token, what they’ve done here in the past does matter. If they’ve got a track record, good or bad, you pay attention to that.”
Here are 70 thoughts on 70 players to know from Michigan’s spring roster, divided into four tiers: front-line starters, major contributors, role players and players who are waiting their turn. The list doesn’t include every player on campus this spring or any who are set to arrive this summer, and the tiers are subject to change between now and the start of the season. Players are listed alphabetically.
Front-line starters
CB Zeke Berry — Pulling Berry back from the transfer portal means Michigan will return both of its starting cornerbacks. That should be a position of strength.
S Chris Bracy — Based on his film at Memphis, Bracy is the kind of player who can excel in Jay Hill’s defense: an instinctive, sure-tackling safety who can knife into the backfield.
WR JJ Buchanan — There’s no ambiguity about Buchanan’s position: He’s a wide receiver, not a tight end. Judging by his freshman year at Utah, the 6-foot-3, 225-pound Buchanan could lead the team in contested catches.
DE John Henry Daley — Daley is targeting June 1 to be cleared from last year’s season-ending injury. If he’s fully healthy, the All-America transfer from Utah — who had 11.5 sacks in 11 games — will answer one of the biggest questions for this roster: Where is the pass rush coming from?
WR Jaime Ffrench — The Texas transfer is dangerous with the ball in his hands. If the Wolverines can find ways to get it to him, he can do the rest.
C Jake Guarnera — Guarnera is becoming the undisputed leader of Michigan’s offensive line and could be one of the top centers in the Big Ten.
CB Jyaire Hill — Hill entered last season with draft buzz but needed another year to develop. He should be one of the top 2027 draft prospects on Michigan’s roster if he plays up to his potential.
WR Andrew Marsh — The Wolverines worked hard to retain Marsh after one of the best freshman seasons for a Michigan wideout. What does he have in mind for an encore?
RB Jordan Marshall — Michigan will miss Justice Haynes’ explosiveness, but Marshall is more than capable of being the workhorse.
S Rod Moore — Moore had a third knee surgery in January and says he’s feeling the best he’s felt since a major injury two years ago. We’ll see if 2026 is the season Moore hoped to have in 2025.
DT Trey Pierce — As a fourth-year player, Pierce is becoming the leader of Michigan’s interior defensive line after starting every game last season.
CB Smith Snowden — Michigan’s staff viewed Snowden as one of the best cornerbacks in the Big 12 at Utah last season. His instincts and ball skills should elevate him as a playmaker in Michigan’s secondary, most likely at nickel.
RT Andrew Sprague — After a solid sophomore season as Michigan’s starting right tackle, it still feels as if Sprague has another level to his game. Will he find it in Year 3?
QB Bryce Underwood — The most scrutinized player on Michigan’s roster should benefit as much as anyone from a new staff, a new scheme and new weapons.
Major contributors
OL Andrew Babalola — Babalola, a five-star prospect from the Class of 2025, looks like Michigan’s left tackle of the future. He’s still recovering from a torn ACL, which means we’ll have to wait until August to see where he stands.
LB Troy Bowles — Bowles, the son of Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles, played the most snaps of any returning linebacker last season. He has a wide-open path to playing time with Jimmy Rolder, Cole Sullivan and Ernest Hausmann all moving on.
K Trey Butkowski — Dominic Zvada is gone, and Butkowski is the replacement. He was 19-for-22 on field goal attempts as a freshman at Pitt.
S Mason Curtis — The previous coaching staff loved Curtis’ versatility as a 6-foot-5 safety but didn’t quite figure out how to use him. There’s a Kyle Hamilton comp waiting to be made if Curtis can put everything together.
OL Nathan Efobi — Efobi was a part-time starter at guard last season who will have to fight for a starting spot as a redshirt junior. With Giovanni El-Hadi moving on and Guarnera projected to start at center, guard spots are up for grabs.
CB Shamari Earls — With Jayden Sanders transferring to Notre Dame, Earls has a clear path to be Michigan’s third cornerback as a sophomore. Go ahead and pencil him into Michigan’s starting lineup for 2027, when the cornerback depth chart should be wide open.
DT Enow Etta — Michigan’s efforts to retain Etta suggest the Wolverines think the top prospect in their 2023 recruiting class is ready for a breakout senior season.
OT Blake Frazier — The Wolverines ended last season with Frazier and Sprague as their starting tackles. Is that how the lineup will look in September? That partly depends on Frazier’s offseason development.
TE Hogan Hansen — After a frustrating, injury-plagued sophomore season, is Hansen still the No. 1 option at tight end? New position coach Freddie Whittingham will have a lot to evaluate.
RB Savion Hiter — The five-star recruit personifies the “freshman who does not look like a freshman” category. A good comp is what Jordon Davison (667 yards, 15 touchdowns) did for Oregon last year as a freshman.
DT Jonah Lea’ea — Lea’ea flew a bit under the radar compared to Michigan’s other Utah transfers, but teammates are buzzing about him early in spring practices.
OL Evan Link — Link was Michigan’s starting left tackle before going down with a midseason knee injury. A move inside to guard could make sense.
DE Nate Marshall — Marshall, a top-50 prospect in the Class of 2025, belongs high on the list of Michigan’s breakout candidates. He’s a high-ceiling pass rusher who got enough experience as a freshman to make a jump in 2026.
WR Salesi Moa — It was notable that Whittingham mentioned Moa, a four-star freshman who originally signed with Utah, as one of Michigan’s top four wideouts heading into spring practice.
DE Dominic Nichols — Nichols had a promising freshman season but didn’t break through to starter-level snaps as a sophomore. Is he ready to be an edge-setter in Michigan’s new defense?
OL Brady Norton — Norton is a valuable utility player who saw time at guard and tackle last season after transferring from Cal Poly. The sixth-man role looks like a good fit, though Michigan’s new staff might have other plans.
LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng — Somebody will need to play linebacker, and Owusu-Boateng has as good a shot as anyone. Coming off of an injury in high school, he worked his way into the rotation by the end of his freshman season.
LB Nathaniel Staehling — Landing Staehling from North Dakota State was a sign that Michigan wanted an old-school linebacker in the middle of its defense. Get this guy a neck roll.
LB Chase Taylor — Taylor wasn’t a big-time recruit, but he outperformed his ranking by earning meaningful snaps as a freshman. Michigan saw something the scouting services missed.
Role players
WR Kendrick Bell — Bell hasn’t matched his brother Ronnie’s production at wide receiver, but he seems to find his way onto the field. He should do so again this season.
DE Cameron Brandt — Brandt’s production went down from three sacks and four tackles for loss in 2024 to half a sack and 1.5 TFLs in 2025. That leaves him with something to prove as a fourth-year senior.
WR Jamar Browder — Michigan tried to get Browder in the mix as a freshman, but he didn’t catch on. The competition for snaps will be stiffer in 2026.
CB Jo’Ziah Edmond — Edmond is a talented cornerback who has yet to break through. Maybe the new coaching staff can get the best out of him.
DE Lugard Edokpayi — Big upside, huge wingspan, still plenty to prove. We’ll see if Michigan’s new staff likes tall, lanky pass rushers as much as the previous staff did.
WR Channing Goodwin — Goodwin won a starting job last year but struggled with drops. He’s another player who could be impacted by the increased depth at wide receiver.
QB Chase Herbstreit — With LSU transfer Colin Hurley leaving the program and Colorado State transfer Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi not yet on campus, Herbstreit — the son of ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit — is one of three healthy QBs competing this spring. The spring game could be his chance to show he’s a Big Ten-caliber quarterback.
TE Jalen Hoffman — Hoffman had a huge spring game last year but didn’t have a catch during the regular season. Will Michigan retire the H-back/fullback/blocking tight end role now that Max Bredeson is gone?
WR Travis Johnson — Until Salesi Moa came on board, Johnson was viewed as the wide receiver with the best chance to play as a freshman. He still could, though the need is less urgent now.
OL Houston Ka’aha’aina-Torres — He’s a player Utah recruited out of high school who should add depth to the offensive line after a year at Nebraska.
RB Micah Ka’apana — Bryson Kuzdzal’s return could put Ka’apana where he was last season, one spot away from playing meaningful snaps. Can he push for a bigger role?
RB Bryson Kuzdzal — Kuzdzal, who was Michigan’s top healthy running back by season’s end, withdrew from the transfer portal and could end up back where he started as the Wolverines’ No. 3 back.
TE Zack Marshall — Marshall has multiple roles for Michigan as a blocker, occasional pass-catcher and all-around positive presence. Michigan’s new staff will find a way to get him on the field.
LB Aisea Moa — Salesi Moa’s older brother adds experience at linebacker after stints at BYU and Michigan State.
S Jacob Oden — Losing Brandyn Hillman and Jaden Mangham leaves snaps available at safety. Oden, who played in 10 games last year and had an interception, could benefit.
DT Deyvid Palepale — Teammates have identified Palepale, a 335-pound nose tackle, as a breakout candidate this season. He was a three-star prospect with big-time offers who might be ready to emerge.
TE Deakon Tonielli — At 6-5, he’s a big target in the passing game with the ability to do a lot of the things Marlin Klein did last year.
S Jordan Young — Young made some big plays as a freshman, none bigger than his pass breakup to help the Wolverines avoid a collapse against Northwestern. That bodes well for the future.
Waiting their turn
OL Manuel Beigel — A late-career switch from defensive line to offensive line doesn’t come with huge expectations. Beigel moves well for his size but never found his niche on defense.
QB Tommy Carr — Whittingham likes what he’s seen so far from Carr, a late addition who’s already validating the decision to keep the Carr name attached to Michigan.
S Jordan Deck — Michigan’s defensive backs will be heavily involved in stopping the run. Deck, an early enrollee from Texas, has the size and toughness to handle those responsibilities.
OL Avery Gach — Gach, an in-state player from the Class of 2025, is part of Michigan’s next wave on the offensive line. Give him another year and he should be pushing for a major role.
OL Luke Hamilton — Year 3 is a crucial time for prospects who haven’t played much. If Hamilton doesn’t crack the guard rotation, it likely means he’s been passed up by some younger players.
DT Ted Hammond — See above. Hammond is another player from Class of 2024 who needs to establish himself this season.
DE Julius Holly — Michigan’s new staff inherited some hybrid edge prospects like Holly, who’s undersized for a defensive end at 6-4 and 230 pounds but makes up for it with quickness and athleticism. We’ll see how those traits translate in the new scheme.
RB Donovan Johnson — Johnson dealt with injuries in high school that carried into his freshman season. It’s tough to say what he can do until he’s all the way back and healthy.
DT Bobby Kanka — Michigan’s previous staff stockpiled defensive tackles like Kanka, a local prospect from the Class of 2025 who has the size and strength to occupy blockers and erase gaps in the run game.
DT Travis Moten — If Michigan’s new staff prioritizes size in the interior, Moten has it at 6-6 and 315 pounds. He’s a second-year prospect with room to grow.
TE Eli Owens — Owens is another tight end with fullback/H-back dimensions at 6-1 and 244 pounds. We’ll see how many of those players can fit in Michigan’s offense.
DE Benny Patterson — Patterson came to Michigan as a 245-pound defensive tackle. Now he’s a 270-pound defensive end. He’ll need to find his niche in the new scheme.
QB Brady Smigiel — It’s unfortunate for Smigiel that his senior season of high school ended with a knee injury. This year is about getting healthy and getting acclimated.
WR I’Marion Stewart — A season-ending injury cost Stewart the chance to contribute for a receiving corps that could have used him last year. He’ll have to make up for lost time now.
S Taylor Tatum — The Wolverines must feel good about their running back depth if they’re moving Tatum to safety. The position switch, which comes after two seasons playing running back at Oklahoma, suggests Michigan isn’t counting on Tatum right away.
CB Jamarion Vincent — Vincent was a parting gift from former DBs coach LaMar Morgan, who flipped him from Baylor late in the recruiting cycle. He’s already turned some heads as an early enrollee.
OL Marky Walbridge — He was the high-upside tackle prospect in Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class who, with time in Michigan’s strength and nutrition programs, should look more like a Big Ten offensive lineman.
WR Jacob Washington — Marsh’s huge freshman season overshadowed the rest of Michigan’s class at wide receiver, including Washington, a four-star prospect whose only snaps on offense came against Central Michigan.
S Kainoa Winston — Winston was a top-100 recruit who appeared in one game as a freshman. He could be the ideal understudy for Snowden this season.
