Michigan’s edge rush rotation is shaping up to be one of the biggest storylines as the Wolverines get ready for Western Michigan on Saturday.
Defensive coordinator Jay Hill made it clear on Wednesday that this isn’t a one- or two-man show. John Henry Daley is set as a full-go, and both Dom Nichols and Cameron Brandt are expected to handle starting reps. Beyond that, Hill said Michigan could roll out six or seven edge rushers during the game, with Nate Marshall, Benny Patterson and Tariq Boney all in the mix.
“Well, I think that's one of the deepest groups on the team as far as guys that we feel like can really contribute and help us,” said Hill. “Depth is a little weird right now because there's been some injuries to that group through the last couple of weeks.
“And they've been injuries that will hold them out for a little bit. But they're not going to be long injuries.
So we expect right now Dom Nichols and John Henry Daely to play a bunch with Cam Brandt. Those three guys probably taking the majority of the load as far as the starters go.
“And then that next tier group, Nate Marshall, Benny Patterson have done a great job. I'm just trying to think.
Tariq Boney, as a young freshman, has really done some great things. So you very well could see six, seven defensive ends in there.”
Daley remains the proven name in the group. He was an All-American last season, and Michigan is counting on him to keep setting the standard. But the Wolverines need more than just one headliner on the edge, and Nichols and Marshall have both been identified as players who can provide real pass-rush juice.
Hill sounded especially eager to see what Nichols can do when the game speed ramps up.
“Yeah, Dom is one of those guys that you asked about earlier. It's like, who's the guys who've really progressed to become great players,' Hill asked.
"I think Dom has all the traits to be a phenomenal big time guy. He's athletic.
He's fluid. He's physical.
He just needs to play football. And so that's going to be the thing I'm most excited about is watching some of these guys that maybe haven't played as much, how they handle playing 40, 50 reps.
That's going to be the key with him.”
Marshall’s path has also been worth watching. The former five-star enters the week as a rotational player, according to Hill, though Kyle Whittingham recently labeled him the best pure-pass rusher on the team. Michigan wasn’t pleased with Marshall early on, but he corrected those issues and now heads toward 2026 with a bigger role in sight.
“I think Coach Powell has done a phenomenal job of just holding all the players to a high standard and expectation. And I've seen that whole group just get better and better. And Nate's one of those guys that has got better and better as camp's gone on and living up to what we all want him to be,” said Hill.
Michigan’s defense will be on display soon enough when the Wolverines line up against Western Michigan.
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