Michigan’s fall camp is in the books, and the picture is starting to sharpen as Week 1 approaches. The depth chart is no longer just a sketch in Ann Arbor; it’s beginning to take shape, with some players forcing their way into bigger roles and others watching the pecking order slip away.
That’s where the real story sits now. The Wolverines are a little more than a week from the opener, and with Kyle Whittingham set to make his debut as Michigan’s new head coach, fall camp has already handed out a few clear wins and a couple of tough breaks.
Among the biggest risers is Travis Johnson, whose climb came fast for a true freshman. Michigan’s receiver room as a whole took a step forward this offseason, but Johnson stood out in a group that already features last season’s leading receiver Andrew Marsh and Utah transfer JJ Buchanan.
The WR3 spot was there for the taking, and Johnson made a strong push for it. Jaime Ffrench is the one who, for Week 1, is expected to start in the slot/WR3 role, but Johnson should still be worked in heavily.
Along with Salesi Moa, he was one of the two biggest freshman risers at receiver, and his all-around game makes him one of camp’s clear winners.
Nathaniel Staehling also came out of camp in a strong spot. Michigan’s linebacker room is the most unsettled group on the roster heading into the season, but the North Dakota State transfer has given the staff something to feel good about. He impressed throughout camp with both talent and leadership, and in a position group loaded with inexperience, he’s emerged as the steadying presence and the bright spot.
Then there’s Savion Hiter, who has done exactly what a highly anticipated freshman is supposed to do: validate the hype. He’s been one of the biggest winners of fall camp, earning praise from coaches and teammates alike. Hiter may not open the season as the starter, but he looks lined up for plenty of snaps.
Not everyone left camp in a better spot, though. Andrew Babalola entered the battle at left tackle with real promise after coming back from the ACL tear he suffered at the end of last fall camp, but Blake Frazier has looked strong enough to make that race difficult. Frazier’s experience in last season’s rotation only adds to his case, and Babalola may not have done enough to grab the job.
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng also appears to be on the wrong side of the numbers game. Staehling’s strong camp directly squeezes the linebacker rotation, and defensive coordinator Jay Hill said that spot will probably be handled by committee. Even so, with Staehling and Troy Bowles bringing more experience and Chase Taylor emerging as a big riser, Owusu-Boateng could find himself lower on the depth chart than he’d like.
In Other News...
Michigan Suddenly Has An Early Concern With Brandon McCoy Jr
Brandon McCoy Jr.s Michigan debut on the Summer Tour was over almost as soon as it began. The freshman was hurt about 20 seconds into an exhibition game against Serbian club Mega Superbet and had to be carried off the court, an abrupt and unsettling scene for a program still trying to sort out its rotation before the upcoming season.
The nature of the injury has not been disclosed, but the way it unfolded has already raised concern around the Wolverines. Summer exhibition games are usually about experimentation and early chemistry, yet this one quickly shifted to a bigger question for Michigan: how much time McCoy might miss, and what that could mean for a lineup that was counting on the freshman to be part of the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Just Landed In Another Elite Quarterback Spotlight
As the NIL market keeps expanding around college footballs biggest names, Dante Moore has become the latest quarterback to add another prominent brand to his portfolio. Celsius announced its partnerships ahead of the 2026 season, placing the Oregon signal-caller alongside a growing group of high-profile players, including Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood and Ohio State receiver Chris Henry Jr., in the energy drink companys college football push.
Moores deal adds to an already busy endorsement slate that includes work with T-Mobile, DoorDash and Nike, and his profile only keeps rising with his status as one of the cover stars of EA College Football 27. For Underwood, it is another sign of just how crowded the elite quarterback spotlight has become, with the most marketable young names in the sport now drawing attention from both brands and fans well before they take another snap. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Already Has A Freshman Injury Concern Fans Will Watch
Michigan basketballs overseas exhibition trip has already turned into a health watch, with a pair of young frontcourt pieces drawing attention for different reasons. Center Moustapha Thiam left the first game early because of injury and did not play in the next two, while freshman guard Trey McKenney sat out the second game before returning for the third.
Brandon McCoy Jr. added to the concern early in that third game when he appeared to suffer a right foot injury and did not come back to the bench. Ricky Liburd was also absent from the roster for that contest and is presumed injured, leaving the Wolverines with a few unanswered questions before the focus turns back to the bigger picture of the season ahead. [Read more 🡒]