Michigan fans have made their pick for who will top the rushing chart in 2026, and the answer was overwhelming: Jordan Marshall.
In a poll this week, Marshall drew 92 percent of the vote from fans asked who they believe will lead Michigan Football in rushing yards next season. Freshman Savion Hiter finished with eight percent, while Bryson Kuzdzal did not receive a vote. The response matched the broader feeling around the backfield: Marshall is the clear favorite, Hiter is the intriguing newcomer, and Kuzdzal is expected to be more of a supporting piece unless the depth chart changes.
Marshall’s case is easy to understand. He’s expected to be Michigan’s starter, and when he’s been on the field, he’s already shown why teammates and coaches trust him.
Last season, he played in 16 games, carried the ball 181 times, and finished with 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns. The biggest question around him isn’t talent.
It’s health. Fans kept circling back to that point, and the Wolverines are hoping he can stay fully healthy in 2026 after missing time last season.
As one fan put it: “I don’t see how anyone can vote for anyone other than Marshall. Kuz doesn’t get enough YAC and we haven’t seen Hiter against a first string defense yet. Also, It looks like Marshall will get at least 60% of the carries, especially in bigger games.”
Another added: “Healthy is the key word. Marshall has yet to get through a season.”
That’s where Hiter enters the conversation. The buzz around the freshman has been strong all offseason, and plenty of fans are already buying into the idea that he’ll be a major part of the offense right away. He was a five-star prospect, and even with Marshall’s production already on the books, there’s a real expectation that Hiter will carve out a meaningful role this fall.
Some fans think the two backs could split the workload in a way that keeps the race closer than it looks on paper. One response said: “I see Marshall and Hiter getting a 60/30 or 50/40 type of split (with about 10% going to other backs).
But Hiter may break a few more big runs. So I think it will end up being somewhat close, but Marshall still leads the team.”
Another fan said: “Most likely Marshall but if Hiter does I won’t be that surprised. I would think Marshall’s body and experience would be more adept to a bigger work load than a true freshman. However Hiter is special.”
And one more didn’t bother hiding the excitement: “Savion Hiter is going to be a dawg! Feed em.”
Kuzdzal still has a lane to touches, but the path is narrower. He stepped up late in 2025 and finished that season with 326 yards and four touchdowns in nine games. Still, with Marshall healthy and Hiter now in the room, fans see him as RB3 heading into the season.
That was reflected in the comments as well. One fan said: “No offense to Kuzdal, but barring injury, he’s likely the 3rd back.”
Another pointed to ball security and the possibility of growth: “There is another element here: proving you can hang onto the ball. Kuz has done that.
If he improves, especially in YAC, he could be a guy who could start at most schools. I think it’s gonna be hard for anyone to supplant him as third back right now.”
For now, though, the fan base has spoken clearly. If Michigan is looking for its rushing leader in 2026, most people are betting on Marshall.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Pulled Off A Pro Pipeline Feat No School Could Match
Michigans pro pipeline had a rare kind of year, with the school sending players into all three major North American drafts and doing it in a way no other college could match. The haul stretched across football, basketball and hockey, a reminder that the Wolverines talent base is not limited to one sport or one season.
The bigger picture is what makes it stand out. Michigan paired that draft success with a basketball national championship and a Big Ten hockey title, even as the year around those programs brought plenty of change and turbulence. For a school that has long sold itself on broad-based excellence, this was a loud confirmation, and it leaves the next question hanging: how much of this run can be sustained? [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's 2027 Class Could Still Change In One Massive Way
Michigans 2027 recruiting class is still early enough that the conversation around it feels more like a forecast than a verdict, and that is part of what makes it interesting. There is already enough talent in the group to spark debate, but the bigger question is how much the class can still rise as evaluations tighten, coaching situations shift and the cycle moves toward signing day.
Among the possibilities being kicked around is the chance that a few current commits keep climbing in the eyes of national evaluators, which would change the way the class is viewed almost as much as any late addition. If that happens, Michigan would have a real shot to turn a good class into something much more eye-catching, with a top 10 finish nationally still sitting there as a plausible outcome if the right breaks come along. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Got Brief Flip Hope From A Five Star Recruit
Joshua Dobson gave recruiting watchers just enough to wonder whether his South Carolina pledge might still have some movement in it, and Michigan fans were quick to notice. The five-star cornerback is one of the premier names in the 2027 class, a top-end defensive back with a national profile and multiple high-level offers, including one from the Wolverines, so any hint of uncertainty was always going to draw attention.
Michigan has kept pressing on the recruiting trail even after missing out on Dobson, and the interest made the brief window of hope feel real for a moment. But the bigger picture remains unchanged for the Wolverines, who are still building out their future secondary while Dobson points toward signing in December and South Carolina stays firmly in the lead. [Read more 🡒]