Michigan is only a week into fall camp, but a clearer picture of the 2026 offense is already starting to emerge. The media hasn’t been allowed to watch practices, so the best clues have come from what Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, and players have said over the last several days. That still leaves plenty of competition unsettled, but some pieces are beginning to lock into place.
The most obvious call is at quarterback, where Bryce Underwood stands as Michigan’s starter. That part of the depth chart is the simplest to sort through.
Underwood’s 2025 season was uneven, but he was a true freshman asked to handle a tough situation without the right coaching around him. Whittingham brought in Koy Detmer Jr. to work with him this season, and the early signs are encouraging.
His footwork looks cleaner, and Beck’s offense should put him in a better spot. Underwood is also expected to be used more as a runner, and if he does a better job reading defenses, the jump from last year to this one should be noticeable.
The backup job is still open, with Tommy Carr and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi battling for the No. 2 spot.
In the backfield, Jordan Marshall is the clear lead option. Michigan’s setup is more 1A and 1B than a true featured-back situation, but Marshall is the top guy.
He didn’t start last season and finished the year hurt, yet he still led the Wolverines in rushing and came close to 1,000 yards in 2025. This fall, he’s set to handle the bulk of the work.
Savion Hiter, a five-star freshman, is also expected to play a major role right away. He has the build and the speed to make an impact, and Beck’s system should give both backs a chance to put up big numbers.
Beck’s offense has finished No. 2 in rushing in each of the last two seasons, which sets the stage for Marshall and Hiter.
At receiver, Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan are already locked into starting spots. Buchanan drew especially strong praise from Whittingham, who recently called him “unguardable” at times during camp.
That kind of presence could open things up for Marsh. Behind them, Whittingham said Michigan has had five [or 5.5] wide receivers step up, and the staff wants seven to emerge before the season begins.
The third receiver spot looks like a fight between Jaime Ffrench and Salesi Moa, and Ffrench gets the edge here because of his experience and speed. Travis Johnson and Channing Goodwin have also been mentioned as players making noise this fall.
Tight end remains a quieter part of the conversation, though there does appear to be a two-man race there. The position hasn’t come up much, either at Big Ten Media Days or during camp, but the reps have told part of the story.
Hogan Hansen had the job two seasons ago before a nagging injury opened the door for Zack Marshall last year. Marshall made the most of it, showing both ability and leadership.
If the season started today, Marshall would be the one with the 1s, though Hansen still has a chance to shake things up.
Up front, only two players have clearly cemented starting roles entering the second week of camp: Andrew Sprague and Jake Guarnera. Even so, the coaching staff has continued to speak highly of former five-star left tackle Andrew Babalola, and if he keeps turning heads, he’s in position to start. That would be a major development for Michigan, especially if he can hold that spot for the next two or three seasons.
Evan Link brings experience and is still competing for tackle reps, but he looks better suited to guard and should land one of those interior jobs. Blake Frazier has also drawn buzz, and coaches have noted that he’s athletic enough to move around. Sliding him inside to guard could end up giving Michigan its best five linemen.
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Michigan Linebacker Battle Just Got More Interesting Than Fans Expected
Michigans linebacker room has been one of the more closely watched parts of camp, and the transfer haul only added to the intrigue. The Wolverines brought in three linebackers through the portal this offseason, giving the position a different look as the staff tries to sort out who can help right away and who can provide dependable depth once the season starts.
One of the more interesting names in the mix has already made a strong early impression. The move has given Michigan another experienced body at a spot where it still needs multiple reliable options, and while a starting job is hardly settled, the competition is at least giving the Wolverines more flexibility than they had entering the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Tommy Carr Is Reviving A Michigan Quarterback What-If Fans Know Well
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What makes it even more notable is the broader family context around the Carr name. Tommys brother, CJ Carr, was once recruited by Michigan before ending up at Notre Dame, and the possibility of both brothers having been in Ann Arbor at the same time has become one of those familiar recruiting what-ifs for fans to revisit as the past and present briefly overlap in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fall Camp Is Starting To Reveal One Defining Battle
Michigans first week of fall camp has already started to sharpen the picture for the season opener against Western Michigan, and a lot of the early attention is settling on the offensive line. The Wolverines are sorting through several position battles up front, with players such as Evan Link and Blake Frazier in the mix, while a handful of true freshmen are also being pushed into consideration for roles. Elsewhere, the receiver group is still coming together behind Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan, and quarterback J.J. Underwood has shown steady improvement under coaching.
On the defensive side, John Henry Daley and Rod Moore are being brought along carefully after opening camp on pitch counts, a reminder that Michigan is trying to balance urgency with long-term health this early in August. Even with that caution, the early read is that both are moving toward being available when the games count, which gives the staff some stability as it continues to evaluate one of the camps most important unresolved jobs up front. [Read more 🡒]