Fall camp has arrived, and for Michigan, it comes with a few major decisions still hanging in the balance. Year 1 under Kyle Whittingham will already look different from his Utah days, and before the Wolverines ever line up against a real opponent, he has to settle a roster and depth chart he can trust.
That makes camp more than just a tune-up. It’s where roles get claimed, job security gets tested and a few key battles could shape the 2026 season.
The biggest one may be at left tackle, where Blake Frazier and Andrew Babalola are locked in what looks like a true head-to-head fight. Michigan’s offensive line matters for obvious reasons, especially if Bryce Underwood is going to have the kind of year he wants, and this one could be among the closest competitions the Wolverines see all camp.
The line has depth “out the wazoo,” which only makes the battle more interesting, because Jim Harding likely feels he can win either way. The timing matters too.
Once the line is set, those five need time to settle in and build chemistry, so this is one Whittingham would probably like to resolve sooner rather than later.
Behind Underwood, the backup quarterback spot is drawing real attention too. Tommy Carr and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi are battling for the job, and as much as nobody wants to think about Underwood missing time, the next man up matters.
The source points to recent examples like Nebraska turning to TJ Lateef after Dylan Raiola went down and Penn State handing things to Ethan Grunkemeyer when Drew Allar was injured. Fowler-Nicolosi brings experience after transferring from Colorado State this offseason, which would seem to make him the obvious choice.
But Carr has made a strong impression through spring and summer, and the freshman - the brother of Notre Dame starter CJ Carr and son of Jason Carr, who once played at Michigan - may actually be the one with the edge right now. Whittingham also has the option of letting that race breathe and evaluating both players in late-game situations if the Wolverines are already in control.
Then there’s linebacker, where the picture is still wide open. Michigan lost all three starters from last season, leaving Jay Hill and Alex Whittingham with plenty to sort through in fall camp.
The room has youth, including Chase Taylor and Troy Bowles, who were reserve pieces in 2025, plus transfer help in Nathaniel Staehling from North Dakota State and Nathaniel Owusu-Boating, who is coming off a freshman season with the Wolverines. It’s the clearest question mark on the defense, and one that has to be answered before Week 1 if Michigan wants the unit to live up to its talent.
Three battles, three different kinds of pressure. For Whittingham, they could end up defining how Year 1 looks in Ann Arbor.
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Michigan Camp Buzz Is Starting To Answer Two Huge Week 1 Questions
Michigans third day of fall camp brought the kind of early buzz programs hope for when August starts to feel real, with the season still four weeks away and a few of the biggest questions already beginning to sort themselves out. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has seen progress, especially from quarterback Bryce Underwood, whose throwing motion has drawn notice as he works through camp, while transfer JJ Buchanan and defensive back Rod Moore have also started to stand out in the early weeks.
The most interesting part of camp, though, is how quickly a few players are forcing their way into the conversation about what this roster will look like in Week 1. Offensive tackle Andrew Babalola is earning attention from the staff, and his rise matters because the Wolverines are still looking for answers in key spots up front and on defense as they build toward the opener. For a team trying to settle its depth chart without wasting valuable August reps, those developments can go a long way toward shaping the tone of the month. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Receiver Battle Just Got More Interesting In Fall Camp
Michigans 2026 fall camp is already offering a better look at what this offense might become under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, and the early signs are encouraging for Bryce Underwood. The former five-star quarterback has reportedly sharpened his footwork and throwing mechanics, which matters a lot for a passing game that suddenly looks deeper and more diverse at receiver than it did a year ago.
JJ Buchanan has brought transfer help, Andrew Marsh is back, and Texas transfer Jaime Ffrench gives the group another proven option as Michigan works through the opening stages of camp. The freshman class is part of the conversation too, with Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson both making noise in practice, and Johnson in particular has started to create the kind of buzz that can turn a wide receiver race into something much more interesting before the competition really settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans New Staff Could Unlock More From Bryce Underwood Than Expected
Michigans new coaching setup arrives with the kind of reputation that can change the conversation around a roster fast, especially when a program is trying to squeeze more out of its top talent than it managed a year ago. Kyle Whittinghams staff is being talked about less as a reset and more as a group capable of raising the ceiling on Michigan football, from the way the offense functions to how individual players are developed and deployed.
Bryce Underwood is at the center of that optimism, because the new structure could give him a much different kind of runway than the one that came before it. The broader expectation is not just that Michigan becomes more efficient, but that it starts producing the sort of standout offensive and defensive seasons that turn projections into program proof, with one edge rusher and one ball-hawking defender also seen as names to watch if this staffs track record translates again. [Read more 🡒]