Michigan’s season opener is almost here, and the final look at the Wolverines’ defense and special teams points to a roster that feels much more settled than it did earlier in the offseason. Under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, the expectation is clear: the defense should be better, the kicking game should be better, and those two areas could be a big reason Michigan moves forward this fall.
Up front, the defensive tackle picture is led by Trey Pierce and Enow Etta. They’re the only returning contributors at the spot, and they’ll be the anchors in the middle.
Utah transfer Jonah Lea’ea is also expected to be a major part of the rotation after breaking out for the Utes in 2025. The depth behind that trio is thinner than ideal, but there have been some encouraging signs in camp.
Bobby Kanka has been the biggest mover and should be in the mix, while Deyvid Palepale is also set for rotation snaps. Late-enrolling freshman Alister Vallejo is another name to watch as the season goes on.
On the edge, Michigan looks loaded. John Henry Daley, a senior and All-American who piled up 11.5 sacks for Utah last year, is the headliner.
He’s coming off an Achilles injury suffered at the end of last season, so his workload early on bears watching, but he hasn’t been limited in fall camp. Dominic Nichols and Nate Marshall have also made real noise, with Marshall finishing camp especially strong and drawing praise from Whittingham as “one of the best pass rushers on the team”.
That rise likely pushes him ahead of Cam Brandt, and freshmen Carter Meadows and Tariq Boney have also turned heads since arriving this summer.
Linebacker has been one of the more uncertain spots for the fan base all offseason, and the turnover explains why. The top four linebackers from 2025 are all elsewhere now, leaving senior Troy Bowles as the lone returning contributor and a likely starter.
Next to him, North Dakota State transfer Nathaniel Staehling has impressed and earned the label of a “tackling machine” from Whittingham, which may be enough to get him the nod in Week 1. Chase Taylor has also drawn plenty of attention recently, so even if he isn’t listed as a starter, he should still see a healthy workload.
The top end looks promising, but the depth remains a question.
The cornerback group appears much more stable. Jyaire Hill, Smith Snowden and Zeke Berry have been locked in as the top trio for a while now, with the only real debate being alignment.
Snowden, a Utah transfer and former All-Big 12 selection, is the likely nickel, while Hill and Berry return to the outside after handling those roles last season. Sophomore Sharmai Earls has been one of the camp standouts and has climbed into the fourth spot on the depth chart, though cornerback coach Jernaro Gilford said he should still play a big share of snaps.
Jo’Ziah Edmond, Jamarion Vincent and converted wide receiver I’Marion Stewart sit farther down the line.
Safety doesn’t come with much anxiety either. Sixth-year senior Rod Moore is the centerpiece, and Whittingham said he’ll still play “quite a bit” against Western Michigan even if he’s on something of a pitch count early.
Alongside him, Memphis transfer Chris Bracy has had a strong offseason and could turn into an underrated portal pickup. Mason Curtis has also been one of the standout depth pieces this fall.
After finishing 2024 strong as a freshman, he didn’t get as large a role as expected last season, but at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds he gives Jay Hill’s defense real flexibility at safety or nickel. Jordan Young is another name to monitor in that same role.
Special teams could end up mattering just as much as any defensive position group. Cameron Brown, the UNLV transfer, is the projected punter, while Trey Butkowski, the Pitt transfer, handles placekicking after arriving this winter as a Lou Groza Award semifinalist last season.
That’s a notable upgrade opportunity after a down year from Dominic Zvada. On the return side, Andrew Marsh looks set to start the year on punts after finishing 2025 in that role, though Michigan may eventually want to protect him from too many hits.
Savion Hiter will be in the kickoff mix as a freshman running back, along with Snowden.
That’s why the kicking game feels like more than just a side note. Michigan’s special teams were poor last season, and simply getting to average would matter. Better field position would lighten the load on both the offense and defense, and a step forward under coordinator Kerry Coombs looks like a real possibility.
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Underwoods development matters because Michigan is not just waiting on talent anymore, it is waiting on proof that the hype can survive game planning, pressure and the regular rhythm of a season. He spent part of the offseason training with quarterback Jordan Palmer and Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow, and now the real test is whether those lessons show up when the Wolverines start asking him to run the offense instead of simply flash what he can do. [Read more 🡒]