Michigan’s 2026 season is bringing a new look under Kyle Whittingham, and one of the quieter names to watch is junior defensive tackle Deyvid Palepale. He has been in the program since the start of his college career, and after barely getting on the field so far, this could be the year he starts showing up more often.
Palepale came to Michigan as a three-star recruit in the 2024 class, choosing the Wolverines in Dec. 2023 over schools including USC, Penn State and Ohio State. That kind of profile usually comes with a patient road, and that’s exactly how his first two seasons have gone.
His 2024 season was wiped out by a season-ending injury from his final high school year, so he never played. In 2025, he finally made his college debut against Maryland and later saw action in the bowl game against Texas in December. Even with those appearances, he still has not recorded a stat in his career.
That makes his 2026 outlook a little tricky to pin down. Outside the building, there just hasn’t been enough game tape to know exactly where he stands.
The spring game offered a positive note, though like any spring showing, it only tells part of the story. He also earned Scout Team Player of the Week honors twice last season, which says something about how he handled the work behind the scenes.
A jump from two games to major defensive responsibility would be a big leap, but Palepale should be in the mix more often this fall. The expectation is that he gets onto the field in most games, either on defense or on special teams, and that will finally give everyone a clearer read on where his development stands.
If he keeps making the most of the chances in front of him, the path to a bigger role may not take long.
In Other News...
Michigan Hit With Another Lawsuit As Warde Manuel Pressure Boils Over
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What makes this one especially combustible is the way it keeps the pressure on Manuel at a moment when his future is already under scrutiny. The allegations in the filing have not been proven in court, but they arrive as a Michigan Board of Regents meeting is expected to address Manuels status with the university, turning what might have been a routine governance matter into another flashpoint for a department that has not had much room to breathe. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Have Every Right To Be Frustrated About Jordan Marshall
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Marshall still enters 2026 as the clear lead option, but the picture around him is shifting. Freshman Savion Hiter adds another layer of talent to the room, and a new offensive coordinator will help shape how Michigan uses its backs, which makes the next step for Marshall and the offense worth watching even if the national rankings have already moved on. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Found A Crucial Answer At Linebacker
With Michigan moving on from its top three linebackers, the spring spotlight has shifted quickly to the next wave, and Chase Taylor is right in the middle of it. The sophomore, part of the 2025 recruiting class, already saw the field in 10 games last season, and now he is being talked about as one of the players most likely to help stabilize the position as the Wolverines reshape the defense under Jay Hill.
Taylor has been grouped with Troy Bowles and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng as one of the top three linebackers on the roster this spring, which says plenty about how fast the picture is changing. For Michigan, the appeal is obvious: Taylor brings the size and athleticism coaches want in the middle of the defense, and the question now is how quickly that promise turns into a bigger role when the games start to matter. [Read more 🡒]