Two weeks into the NFL preseason, Michigan’s former Wolverines are showing up all over the league. Some are trying to lock down starting jobs, others are fighting just to stay on rosters, and a few are already flashing enough to turn heads in August.
The most encouraging early return may belong to Derrick Moore. The Detroit Lions used a second-round pick on him in April, and through two preseason appearances he’s already posted a sack and a forced fumble.
That kind of production doesn’t guarantee anything this time of year, but it does suggest Moore is on track to help right away. Lions fans who also follow Michigan have a pretty clean storyline to track, too: Moore and Aidan Hutchinson now wearing the same uniform.
Jaishawn Barham is making his case in a different way. After transferring to Michigan from Maryland as a linebacker and moving to edge full time in 2025, he brought that versatility into the NFL with Dallas.
The Cowboys have been shifting him around the formation, and he’s responded with four solo tackles in preseason play. He looks like a player who can be used in more than one role on defense.
Marlin Klein’s path has been more complicated. He entered last season with real momentum after looking like a possible replacement for Colston Loveland in Michigan’s offense with Bryce Underwood, but injuries kept interrupting his year.
Even so, the Houston Texans took him in the second round, and he showed a little of what he can do against the Las Vegas Raiders with three catches on four targets for 31 yards. With Dalton Schultz ahead of him and no clear second tight end established, Klein should get a chance to work into the mix.
Baltimore found a familiar face in Rayshaun Benny, a seventh-round pick who now plays for a team that hired Jesse Minter this offseason. Minter coached Benny at Michigan in 2022 and 2023, when the Wolverines made back-to-back College Football Playoff trips, including the 2023 national championship run.
Benny has one solo tackle through two preseason games, and he added his first sack in Baltimore’s 13-3 win over the Minnesota Vikings. That one came against Carson Wentz, since J.J.
McCarthy had already left the game.
The Lions also used another draft pick on a former Wolverine in Jimmy Rolder, hoping he could help on defense and special teams. For now, though, a hamstring injury is expected to keep him out until at least the start of the regular season.
Michigan fans who won’t get to watch J.J. McCarthy this fall still have one former captain to follow in Minnesota.
Max Bredeson is listed as the team’s primary fullback, taking over for fan favorite CJ Ham. In Kevin O’Connell’s offense, he’ll be the blocking back in front of Aaron Jones.
And in Miami, McCulley is trying to carve out any kind of path as an undrafted free agent. He was one of Michigan’s receivers last year, but his stock didn’t rise the way he wanted, and he landed with a Dolphins wide receiver group that offers him a real opening. So far, though, he hasn’t caught a pass through two games and will likely need at least a year of development.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Landed An Early Ohio Recruiting Win Fans Will Love
Michigan picked up an eye-catching addition for its 2027 class when Monsanna Torbert Jr., a four-star cornerback from Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, made a hard commitment to the Wolverines. Torbert is regarded as one of the top defensive back prospects in the country, and his decision gives Michigan an early foothold in a state that has long been a battleground on the recruiting trail.
The pull came after his visit to Ann Arbor, where Michigans coaching staff and defensive philosophy clearly left a strong impression. With several major programs in the mix, Torberts choice stands out not just because of his talent, but because of where he comes from and what it could mean for the Wolverines as they keep building out the 2027 class. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Rookies Are Already Forcing The NFL To Notice
Rookie pass rushers from Michigan are wasting no time making themselves part of the NFL conversation. Derrick Moore turned in the kind of preseason performance that gets a coaching staffs attention, piling up a sack and two forced fumbles for the Lions against the Commanders after being taken 44th overall in the 2026 draft. He entered camp with a clear path to immediate snaps, and nights like this only reinforce the idea that Detroit has reason to expect help right away.
Rayshaun Benny is pushing for the same kind of early credibility in Baltimore. The Ravens defensive lineman, a seventh-round pick, added a sack in a preseason win over Minnesota and gave himself another strong case for one of the more difficult jobs on the roster, a spot on the 53-man lineup. For Michigan, it is already becoming a familiar August storyline: former Wolverines showing up fast, playing aggressively and making sure NFL teams keep their names in mind. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Week 1 Offense Is Emerging But One Big Battle Remains
Michigan has spent much of August sorting through its offensive pieces, and a clearer picture is finally starting to emerge as Week 1 approaches against Western Michigan. Bryce Underwood is expected to open at quarterback, Jordan Marshall looks set as the starting running back and team captain, and Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan appear to have the lead at receiver, giving the Wolverines a nucleus to build around.
Even so, there is still real competition scattered through the lineup, which is why Kyle Whittingham is keeping the depth chart under wraps until kickoff. The backup quarterback battle between Tommy Carr and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi remains unresolved, the third wide receiver spot and tight end roles are still open enough to involve multiple players, and an offensive line tweak could push Nate Efobi ahead of Andrew Babalola after Babalola's minor fall-camp setback. [Read more 🡒]