Michigan didn’t put an All-American on the board in 2025, its first blank there since the wild 2020 COVID-19 season. That’s a break from the run the Wolverines have enjoyed since 2021, when they’ve routinely had players land on those lists.
But 2026 gives Michigan a real chance to get back there. With a new wave of talent and a year of growth for some of the younger pieces, there are several Wolverines who could push themselves into All-American territory this season.
John Henry Daley is the obvious headliner on paper because he already knows what that level looks like. He arrived from Utah after earning All-American honors last season, and even with a season-ending Achilles injury, he still put up 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss while causing problems all over the field.
If he gets back to form in Ann Arbor, he should instantly be one of the Big Ten’s most dangerous edge rushers. And with the résumé he already has, another strong year would put him right back in All-American company.
Jordan Marshall is another name that fits the conversation if everything comes together around him. He opened last season behind Justice Haynes, later took over the starting job, and then dealt with an injury late in the year.
Even with that roller coaster, he still finished as Michigan’s leading rusher with 932 yards. Now he gets Jason Beck’s offense, and Beck has posted the No. 2 rushing attack in each of the last two seasons.
If the Wolverines lean into the ground game the way they should, Marshall has a path to a career year and an All-American push.
The offensive line could end up being one of the best places for Michigan to build that kind of momentum. It’s a young group, with mostly one- or two-year starters, but Jim Harding’s arrival from Utah has raised expectations for what that unit can become.
Jake Guarnera is set to anchor it at center after playing right guard last season, and Michigan has already treated him like the future at that spot. He was one of the team’s best run blockers a year ago, and moving to center should only help him with the pass protection responsibilities.
If the line performs at a high level, Guarnera is going to be a big part of that conversation.
Jyaire Hill already has the kind of recognition that can serve as a launch point. He made All-Big Ten last season and is heading into his third year as a starter in Michigan’s secondary.
Stronger and more experienced now, he looks ready to become the kind of lockdown corner the Wolverines need. He won’t be isolated, with Zeke Berry and Smith Snowden also in the mix, but Hill is the most likely candidate to spend his time on the opponent’s top wideout.
If Michigan’s pass defense is as strong as it hopes, Hill will get plenty of credit, and that would put him in the All-American discussion fast.
The passing game should also have room to grow with Bryce Underwood expected to make the leap Michigan is waiting for. If that happens, Andrew Marsh could be one of the biggest beneficiaries.
Marsh was Underwood’s top target last season, and once he got his chance, he showed enough to look like one of the better receivers in the Big Ten. With a full season as a starter in 2026, he should be on track for 1,000 yards, which would put him squarely in All-American conversations.
Rod Moore rounds out the group, and his case is built on what he was before the injury. He has played very limited snaps since suffering a season-ending injury ahead of the 2024 season, but he is back and 100%.
Michigan doesn’t have to guess about his ceiling either - Moore was one of the best safeties in the Big Ten during the 2023 season. If he gets anywhere close to that version again, the Wolverines should have an All-Big Ten safety on their hands, and he could work his way into the All-American race as well.
In Other News...
Ryan Day Just Put Michigan At The Center Of Ohio State's Season
Ryan Day is treating Michigan like the sort of game that can swallow everything else around it, which is why Ohio State moved its Senior Day to the opener against Ball State. The idea is simple enough: clear the deck early, cut down on the buildup and keep the Buckeyes focused on the rivalry game on Nov. 28, where the stakes always seem to rise no matter how many wins stack up before it.
From Michigans side, the timing says plenty about where the pressure lives in this matchup. Day still has not beaten the Wolverines at their home stadium, with losses in 2022 and 2024, and his decision only underscores how much that game continues to frame Ohio States season. Even in a year when the calendar is full of ordinary Saturdays, the week of Michigan remains the one Day is trying hardest to simplify. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Already Fighting For Its Future At Quarterback
Michigan is already looking well down the road at quarterback, and the staff has started laying groundwork in the 2028 class while fall camp approaches. Jayden Wade, who is currently committed to Georgia, remains on Michigans radar, while Tristin Gaines and Jamar Howard have both shown interest and are working through plans to get to campus in Ann Arbor.
For a program that always has to think a step ahead at the games most important position, the early recruiting push matters as much as the on-field depth chart. Michigan is trying to keep those connections warm now, knowing the next wave of quarterback recruiting can shape the roster for years to come, even if the real resolution is still a long way off. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans May Not Love Kyle Whittinghams Early Ohio State Message
Kyle Whittinghams arrival in Ann Arbor has already brought a shift in tone, and not every Michigan fan is likely to love the early message. Rather than leaning into the old script of pure dislike for Ohio State, Whittingham has framed the rivalry in terms of intensity and significance, keeping the focus on competing hard without trying to sell hatred as the centerpiece. For a fan base that measures the season in part by what happens against the Buckeyes, that kind of language is bound to stand out.
Ryan Day, meanwhile, has gone in the opposite direction by making the rivalry feel like a constant priority. His decision to move Senior Day to the opener was aimed at eliminating distractions later in the year, another reminder that Ohio State is treating rivalry week as something to be protected and sharpened. The contrast sets up an interesting early test for Whittingham with Michigan supporters, because the football part of the job may be one thing, but the emotional language around this game is another matter entirely. [Read more 🡒]