With a new coaching staff, a new strength and conditioning staff and a wave of new players arriving, Michigan is going to look a lot different in a few weeks. But even with all that turnover, the Wolverines still can’t count on newcomers alone. The players already in the program have to take a real step forward if this team is going to hit its ceiling in 2026.
Bryce Underwood is the obvious centerpiece. Beyond him, the more interesting question is which returning Wolverine matters most when it comes to development heading into next season.
There are plenty of candidates on defense. Mason Curtis showed some real flashes in 2025, but the consistency just wasn’t there. If he turns into the kind of force Michigan hopes he can be, his combination of size and speed gives defensive coordinator Jay Hill a lot more flexibility.
The cornerback room belongs in the conversation too. Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry both put together solid seasons last year, but the expectation now is that both of them make the jump into stardom this fall. For a program whose biggest rival is WRU, having multiple lockdown corners is not optional.
Linebacker is another spot where Michigan has numbers, but not much proven production. Troy Bowles, Nate Staehling, Chase Taylor, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and others are all in the mix, and somebody has to emerge. It’s tough to pin this on just one player, because the whole group needs to develop if the Wolverines want to avoid a soft spot in the defense.
Up front, Enow Etta stands out as a player who could become extremely valuable if he breaks through this season. Michigan is thin at defensive tackle, which means Trey Pierce and Etta are going to be asked to hold up early and often.
On offense, Jordan Marshall and Andrew Marsh are already viewed as relatively safe bets, though there’s nothing stopping either one from growing into All-American level players in 2026. Tight end is another spot where Michigan could use a breakout, with Zack Marshall, Deakon Tonielli and Hogan Hansen all candidates to become a dependable safety valve for Underwood.
But the name that comes to mind first is Blake Frazier. Michigan’s offensive line has plenty of talent, and the formula is simple: keep Underwood clean and open wide lanes for Marshall and Savion Hiter.
Jake Guarnera and Andrew Sprague are expected starters, but if Frazier, Andrew Babalola or Nathan Efobi turn into stars, the line could become something special. Frazier gets the nod here because he showed the most when forced into early action last season.
If he takes off in 2026, Michigan’s offensive line could end up being one of the best in the country.
In Other News...
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 🡒]