Michigan’s fall camp is set to sort out several key jobs, and the biggest decisions appear to be clustered in the trenches and on defense. A few spots already look close to settled, but the Wolverines still have real competition at left tackle, both guard spots, linebacker and safety.
The offensive line is the clearest puzzle. Jake Guarnera at center and Andrew Sprague at right tackle seem to have locked down their places, but the rest of the unit is still very much in motion.
Left tackle looks like a three-man race between Blake Frazier, Evan Link and Andrew Babalola. Frazier may have the edge after starting eight games last year and allowing four sacks in 255 pass-blocking snaps.
Babalola is working back from the ACL injury he suffered last fall camp, while Link is also returning from an injury that limited him this spring. All three have a path to the job.
The guard spots are open too, with Nathan Efobi, Brady Norton and Link in the mix. Efobi brings the most direct experience inside after starting five games in 2025, and he posted a team-high 78.3 PFF grade against Texas last year.
Norton and Link have mostly lined up at tackle during their careers, but both can move inside if needed. Efobi and Link look like the most likely pair to emerge as the starters, though nothing is settled yet.
On defense, linebacker is shaping up as another major camp fight. Troy Bowles, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Nathaniel Staehling and Chase Taylor are all battling for the starting jobs.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill said Bowles and Taylor stood out on the first day of fall camp, but that does not guarantee either will open the season in the lineup. Bowles, who had 26 total tackles in 12 games last year, appears to have the best shot because of his experience, while Staehling, Owusu-Boateng and Taylor will try to push for those season-opening roles.
Safety is also still being sorted out. Head coach Kyle Whittingham said Rod Moore and Chris Bracy have the “inside track” to start, with Mason Curtis still in the picture as well.
Moore is fully healthy after dealing with injuries over the last two years, and Bracy arrives from Memphis with expectations to contribute right away. All three are expected to play regularly, but only two spots are available in the starting lineup.
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Michigan Fall Camp Buzz Centers On Two Names Fans Arent Watching
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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 🡒]
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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 🡒]