Big Ten Media Days is almost here, and once that passes, fall camp will be right behind it. That means Michigan’s season is about to stop being theoretical and start getting real. The Wolverines are coming off a nine-win year under Sherrone Moore, and new head coach Kyle Whittingham did a strong job holding the roster together while also adding help through the transfer portal.
So with Week 1 against Western Michigan on the horizon, it’s time to map out what Michigan’s first starting lineup might look like before camp even opens. The picture is fairly clear in a lot of spots, but there are still a few jobs that will have to be sorted out over the next few weeks.
On offense, the projection is built around Jason Beck’s standard 11 personnel. Michigan will still have the option to go jumbo at times this season, and Beck has already said he’ll tailor the offense to the Wolverines’ strengths. But for this exercise, the focus stays on that base 11-personnel look.
There are six spots that feel essentially settled right now. The rest will be decided in camp.
At tight end, the battle appears to be between Zack Marshall and Hogan Hansen. Marshall got plenty of run last season when Marlin Klein was dealing with injuries, and that experience matters.
Hansen was impressive as a freshman, but durability issues opened the door for Marshall to stand out. If the lineup were set today, Marshall would get the edge.
Wide receiver three is another spot worth watching. Jaime Ffrench arrives with a year of experience and looks like the safest early choice, but five-star Salesi Moa is going to push hard for that role. Travis Johnson, Jamar Browder, Kendrick Bell, and Channing Goodwin are also in the mix, though Ffrench and Moa should be the main names to track.
The offensive line still has some sorting to do at left tackle, left guard, and right guard. Blake Frazier looks like the best bet at left tackle for now after handling the spot last year when Evan Link was hurt.
Andrew Babalola, a former five-star, could absolutely change that picture and even move Frazier inside. Link, if he’s fully healthy, should be in line for one of the guard spots.
That leaves Nate Efobi fighting Brady Norton and possibly Frazier for the other guard opening.
Defensively, Jay Hill has usually leaned on a 4-2-5, though he has the flexibility to mix in different looks. For now, that base defense is the cleanest way to project the depth chart.
Up front, the defensive line looks fairly stable. Cameron Brandt played a lot last season and seems to have the inside track, even if Dominic Nichols and Nate Marshall make things uncomfortable for him in camp. At this point, Brandt is the pick.
Linebacker is where the real uncertainty lives. Michigan lost all three linebackers from last season, and this group is young and light on experience. Troy Bowles is the veteran of the bunch and should be one of the starters.
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng might have the highest ceiling on the roster at linebacker, but durability remains a concern. Chase Taylor has been mentioned as a breakout candidate for this season and flashed that kind of ability as a freshman.
Nathaniel Staehling, a transfer from North Dakota State, also deserves attention after a strong season there. He might not start, but he’s going to be part of the rotation.
Safety could also become an issue if Rod Moore isn’t ready to open the season. The expectation is that his rehab has gone well and that he’s prepared to go, but Michigan has options if needed. Jordan Young and Mason Curtis are set to rotate with Moore and Chris Bracy this season, and if Moore can’t go in Week 1, Curtis should see a heavy workload.
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