Michigan’s newly released 2026 roster gives the first real snapshot of where the program stands physically, and the numbers bring a few clear themes into focus. The freshman class looks loaded on paper, a handful of jersey numbers have already shifted, and several players have spent the offseason reshaping their bodies in noticeable ways.
The most eye-catching part of the roster is the true freshman group. Michigan’s 2026 class landed just outside the Top 10 in the Rivals Industry Rankings, and the physical profiles jump off the page.
Defensive end Carter Meadows is listed at 6-foot-7 and 252 pounds. The former five-star was the highest-ranked defensive player in the class, and he arrives in Ann Arbor at a healthy weight that should help him push for a role quickly.
The receiving group also brings plenty of intrigue. Salesi Moa and Travis Johnson are both listed at 6-foot-2, with Moa at 186 pounds and Johnson at 185.
Moa could be part of the return game this season, while Johnson has a chance to work his way into the two-deep on offense alongside him. Tight end Mason Bonner is another newcomer worth tracking at 6-foot-7 and 229 pounds.
He is not expected to have a major role right away, but his size and the things offensive coordinator Jason Beck has said about him this fall camp point to a promising future.
A few more freshmen stand out just by the numbers. Offensive lineman Tommy Fraumann checks in at 6-foot-8 and 279 pounds, while Malakai Lee is listed at 6-foot-7 and 359 pounds.
On the defensive side, Alister Vallejo comes in at 6-foot-3 and 307 pounds. The linebacker group includes Aden Reeder at 6-foot-2 and 223 pounds, Markel Dabney at 6-foot and 241 pounds, and Kaden Catchings at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds.
There are also fresh jersey numbers to sort through. Carter Meadows is now No.
14, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi wears No. 16, Mason Bonner is No. 18, and Braydon Alford is No.
- Cam Brown has taken No.
33, Ndi Etta is No. 35, Jimmy Pisani is No.
40, Tariq Boney is No. 41, Jack Treuletaar is No.
43, Nathaniel Staehling is No. 44, Alister Vallejo is No.
56, Malakai Lee is No. 58, Tommy Fraumann is No. 79 and Titan Davis is No.
The biggest body transformation belongs to Markel Dabney. He was listed at 225 pounds in the spring and is now up to 241, a 16-pound gain that leads Michigan’s offseason changes. That kind of jump suggests a freshman who has put real work into his development since arriving in Ann Arbor.
Several others added significant weight as well. Sophomore defensive tackle Travis Moten went from 315 to 330, freshman offensive lineman Marky Walbridge moved from 285 to 300, and junior edge rusher Lugard Edokpayi climbed from 250 to 263. Freshman Tommy Carr, one of the backups in the quarterback room, also added 10 pounds and now sits at 195.
Not everyone went up. Junior defensive tackle Ted Hammond posted the most dramatic drop, falling from 294 to 270.
That kind of change at defensive tackle often points to a player aiming for more burst and disruption inside. Junior offensive lineman Luke Hamilton also slimmed down, going from 319 to 298.
Sophomore linebacker Chase Taylor dropped from 237 to 222, junior defensive tackle Deyvid Palepale went from 335 to 322, and sophomore edge rusher Benny Patterson III moved from 270 to 257.
With fall camp underway, Michigan’s roster update offers the clearest look yet at the team’s physical makeup entering 2026. The size gains, the trim-downs and the new arrivals all tell part of the story. Now comes the part that matters most: seeing what it looks like when the pads come on.
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