Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill walked reporters through a lot more than just the upcoming opener. His update on week one centered on three things: a defense getting younger by the day, Rod Moore’s return, and the headache of trying to slow down Jason Beck’s offense in practice.
The youth movement on that side of the ball has been one of the clearest themes of fall camp, and Hill made it sound like several players have taken real steps forward. He pointed to progress at every level of the defense, crediting the competition in camp for pushing the entire group.
Dom Nichols was one of the names Hill went out of his way to praise. The defensive end has flashed enough athleticism and physicality to get the staff’s attention, and Hill believes there’s a much bigger ceiling there once the game slows down for him.
"Dom is one of those guys that you asked about earlier," Hill noted. "Who's the guys who've really progressed to become great players?
I think Dom has all the traits to be a phenomenal, big time guy. He's athletic, he's fluid, he's physical.
He just needs to play football."
Nate Marshall was another defensive end who drew mention after putting together a strong stretch from spring practice into fall camp. Hill’s message there was about growth, maturity, and the kind of work ethic that can earn a player real snaps in a deep rotation.
In the secondary, safety Chris Bracy has kept making noise by turning scrimmages into takeaway opportunities, with interceptions showing up repeatedly.
Hill also delivered the clearest update yet on Rod Moore: the veteran safety will definitely play on Saturday as he works back. That matters for a secondary that will spread more of the communication duties across the back seven instead of leaning on one voice alone.
And while Hill spent plenty of time on his own defense, he also made it obvious that practicing against Beck’s offense has been no walk in the park. The tempo, the movement, the physical edge - it’s all been on display every day.
"I can say this, Jason Beck's offense is awesome," Hill said. "And it's another one of those things where you better be prepared for the tempo and the physicality and all the zigging and zagging and everything that goes with it. I think the fans are gonna love it and the players are gonna love it."
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Jordan Marshalls late-season surge gave Michigan something it has been missing in recent years: a back who could take over a game and do it consistently. He finished the 2025 season with 932 rushing yards and a 6.2 yards-per-carry average, then emerged as the Wolverines starting running back down the stretch while thriving in Big Ten play. That kind of production is why the conversation around his ceiling is already getting louder, even before the next season begins.
Jake Butt of Big Ten Network recently floated Marshall as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate for 2026, which is the sort of praise that tends to sound ambitious until a player starts stacking up meaningful performances. The challenge for Michigan is that Savion Hiter is also arriving with big expectations as a freshman All-American candidate, and his presence could affect how much runway Marshall gets. For now, though, Marshall has already done enough to make the idea worth taking seriously. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Already Has Ohio State Fans Arguing About Jeremiah Smith
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The instant speculation among Ohio State fans was that the remark might have come from former Buckeyes running backs coach Tony Alford, who is now with Michigan. Smith has been relatively quiet against the Wolverines in two meetings, averaging 37.5 receiving yards per game, which only adds another layer to a rivalry that rarely needs extra fuel. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Found The Edge Threat Its Defense Was Missing
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For a defense that wants more consistent heat off the edge, that kind of development matters. The Wolverines also have depth pieces in Carter Meadows and Dominic Nichols who are expected to help round out the rotation, and the bigger question now is whether Michigan can turn that mix into the kind of pressure package that changes games instead of merely chasing them. [Read more 🡒]