Michigan is less than a day from opening fall camp, and the picture in Ann Arbor looks a lot different than it did the last time the Wolverines lined up. The roster has shifted, the staff has changed, and there are already a couple spots where the 2026 team looks stronger than the one that came before it - along with a couple areas that still feel like works in progress.
The biggest upgrade is on the sideline. After the shortened Sherrone Moore era turned messy, Kyle Whittingham arrives as the new head coach, and that alone changes the feel of the program.
He brings stability, and he brings a long résumé. In 21 seasons at Utah, Whittingham won 10 or more games eight times and finished with a winning record in all but three seasons.
He did that while operating with fewer resources than Michigan has now, which is why the expectation in Ann Arbor is that he can at least match that level of success with the Maize and Blue.
Michigan also looks better equipped at quarterback behind Bryce Underwood. Reports from spring say freshman Tommy Carr had a strong showing and is positioned as the second-string option.
That matters for the present, but it also matters for what comes next, because it gives Wolverines fans some reason to believe the position will still be in good shape after Underwood’s time in Ann Arbor ends. The depth chart got another boost with the addition of Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a veteran transfer from Colorado State who piled up nearly 7,000 passing yards and appeared in more than 30 games with the Rams.
The concerns start at linebacker. Michigan lost three of its top five tacklers from last season in Jimmy Rolder, Ernest Hausmann and Cole Sullivan, and all three played linebacker.
That leaves a real hole to patch. The Wolverines do bring back Troy Bowles, Chase Taylor and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, all of whom played last season, but none has been on the field enough to make anyone fully comfortable projecting what comes next.
Michigan also added Max Alford from BYU, Aisea Moa from MSU and Nathaniel Staehling from NDSU through the portal, though it’s tough to see one of them matching last year’s production right away.
Running back depth is the other place where the 2026 version of Michigan doesn’t quite measure up. This isn’t a shot at the current group, but last season’s duo of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall was one of the best tandems in the country.
This year, Marshall will pair with five-star freshman Savion Hiter. Hiter has plenty of upside, but it’s hard to say he’ll be nearly as good as the 2025 version of Haynes that Michigan had in Ann Arbor.
In Other News...
Michigan Fall Camp Opens With Fresh Buzz Around Two Young Wolverines
Fall camp has opened in Ann Arbor with the usual mix of new faces, open jobs and early August energy, and Michigans attention is already drifting toward the positions that can shape the season. Linebacker, backup quarterback, left tackle and the defensive line all figure to be under the microscope as the Wolverines start sorting out who fits where, with the early days of practice offering the first real clues about how the depth chart might settle.
There is also a little extra buzz around two young Wolverines who have already drawn national notice before the pads really come on. Bryce Underwood and Jordan Marshall were both named to the Maxwell Award preseason watch list, a reminder that Michigans future remains a major part of the conversation even as camp battles unfold. For a roster trying to balance immediate answers with long-term upside, that kind of recognition only adds to the intrigue surrounding the next few weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Loses A Veteran Lineman To A Sudden Fall Camp Setback
Michigans defensive line room took a hit during fall camp when senior Chibi Anwunah stepped away from the program after four seasons in Ann Arbor. A Michigan spokesperson confirmed the veteran lineman has been a steady presence across 15 games, with most of his work coming on special teams, where depth and reliability matter as much as size and power.
Anwunahs departure leaves one more hole for the Wolverines to account for as camp moves forward, especially with the season approaching and roster roles still being sorted out. The program has not disclosed the medical issue behind the move, leaving the situation as a quiet but meaningful setback for a veteran who had carved out a place on the teams depth chart and in its weekly preparation. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans First Fall Roster Hint Just Changed A Few Position Battles
Michigan opened fall camp with a roster update that offered the first real glimpse of how the depth chart may sort itself out, and the early takeaway is that several newcomers are already forcing their way into the conversation. Freshmen like edge rusher Carter Meadows and offensive lineman Malakai Lee drew attention for their physical development and the chance they could factor into the rotation sooner rather than later, while a few listed position switches also suggest the staff is still tinkering with the best way to deploy its talent.
IMarion Stewarts move from wide receiver to cornerback stands out as one of the clearer signs that Michigan is willing to reshape roles to fit both need and upside. The roster also left some unanswered questions at a couple of spots, and with camp just getting started, the bigger test will be whether those early hints settle into real jobs before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]