Michigan is a week into fall camp, and the clearest early theme is this: the Wolverines have some real momentum in a few key spots, but there are still a couple of groups that need answers before the season gets rolling.
Start with the passing game, where JJ Buchanan has gone from unknown transfer to a name worth watching. Kyle Whittingham called him “unguardable” earlier this week, and that kind of praise changes the conversation fast.
Buchanan arrived from Utah with opportunity in front of him, and now he looks like a possible WR1 next to super sophomore Andrew Marsh, who is expected to make a major jump as a full-time starter. If Michigan is going to get more out of its passing attack in 2026, Buchanan becoming a dependable target would go a long way in helping Bryce Underwood develop.
The secondary has also given Michigan something to feel good about. Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden, and Zeke Berry look like the top three corners and are essentially locked in for the opener against Western Michigan.
That’s a strong group if it stays intact, but football rarely cooperates that neatly. Someone else is going to have to be ready, and early signs point to Shemari Earls filling that role.
Earls entered the program with five-star expectations, and with attrition and limited experience in the defensive backfield, Michigan needed him to rise. So far, he’s apparently doing exactly that, sitting just behind the top trio.
He may not see much action unless injuries hit or the staff rotates more often, but the more depth Michigan has there, the better, especially with late-season games against Dante Moore and Julian Sayin looming.
There’s more good news on the injury front, too. Rod Moore had an interception in practice, while Daley is giving Michigan the kind of steady edge presence it has missed since Aidan Hutchinson left for the NFL.
Both players seem to be all the way back, and the hope is that they’ll be fully ready by the time Oklahoma comes to Ann Arbor on September 12. Earlier in camp, Jay Hill said both were on a snap count as they worked back from significant injuries, so this is a meaningful step.
At linebacker, Michigan needed someone younger to step forward, and Nathaniel Staehling appears to be making a move. The North Dakota State transfer posted 33 tackles, one sack, and three interceptions last season for the Bison, then came to Ann Arbor in the spring but missed most of spring ball with a shoulder injury.
With Jimmy Rolder, Ernest Hausmann, and Cole Sullivan all gone after the 2025 season, Michigan is looking for help in the middle of the defense. Staehling at least brings experience and a chance to provide some stability, even if it didn’t come from the Big Ten.
The biggest question mark, though, is still tight end. Michigan usually has answers there, but replacing Colston Loveland has not been simple.
Marlin Klein’s 2024 season was derailed by injuries and performance issues. Hogan Hansen has more hype than production right now.
Zack Marshall and Deakon Tonielli had moments last year, but neither has separated in camp. Mason Bonner, a freshman with size, is an intriguing piece, but relying on a true freshman to carry the load can go sideways in a hurry.
There’s still time before the regular season, but this is a spot where Michigan needs somebody to emerge, or offensive coordinator Jason Beck may have to get more inventive with how he uses his personnel.
And then there’s the annual Michigan-Ohio State debate, which somehow always circles back to how much hate is “enough.” The answer, at least from the source material, is pretty simple: The Game matters, and it matters more than anything else on the schedule.
Whittingham has said as much. Michigan doesn’t need the perfect emotional script.
It needs the result at the end of November. If the Wolverines win, the approach works.
If they don’t, every part of the conversation gets reopened.
In Other News...
Michigan Fall Camp Buzz Centers On Two Names Fans Arent Watching
Michigans fall camp chatter has started to widen beyond the usual headline names, and one of the more interesting voices in the room has been offensive lineman Andrew Sprague. He pointed to wide receiver Channing Goodwin as a player who is getting overlooked, but who has shown enough in practice to suggest he can matter this season. For a roster always searching for reliable answers at receiver, any quiet rise from an under-the-radar target is the kind of development worth tracking.
Sprague also brought up Jonah Lealea, the Utah transfer working at defensive tackle, as another player drawing notice on the practice field. Michigan likes when newcomers settle in quickly, especially up front, and Lealeas early buzz suggests he may be closer to a meaningful role than the casual observer might assume. The staff still has time to sort out how those pieces fit, but the early signs have put both names on the list of players to watch as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Jyaire Hill Just Raised The Stakes For Michigan's Season
Jyaire Hill is already setting the tone for what Michigan wants this season to feel like. The senior cornerback said he is chasing a championship now, and the message lands with a little extra weight because the Wolverines are trying to keep their edge in a year when expectations are back where they usually are in Ann Arbor. It is the kind of veteran voice that can help frame a locker room, especially for a team looking to stay steady while the rest of the roster continues to evolve.
Offensively, Michigan is still working through how to best harness its ground game under Jason Beck, with Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter giving the staff real options in the backfield. There is also familiar Michigan quarterback chatter in the background, with ESPN analyst Booger McFarland saying J.J. McCarthy still has the tools to become a franchise quarterback even while backing up in Minnesota. For the Wolverines, it is another reminder that the programs present and future are both pulling in interesting directions. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fall Camp Is Heating Up Around A Few Crucial Starting Battles
The second week of fall camp is already sorting through a handful of Michigans most important jobs, and the competition has a way of making every practice rep feel a little bigger. Savion Hiter, JJ Buchanan, Channing Goodwin and Travis Johnson are among the players drawing attention as coaches sort out who can handle bigger roles this season, while Andrew Babalola, John Henry Daley, Cameron Brandt and Dominic Nichols are all part of the larger mix of linemen and edge players trying to carve out steady spots.
For Michigan, the appeal is obvious: these are the kinds of battles that can shape both the depth chart and the tone of the season before August is even over. Some of the evaluations are still unfolding, with coaches praising what certain players can do and leaving the final answer open, which is exactly what makes camp worth watching this time of year. [Read more 🡒]