Week 3 of Michigan’s fall camp is bringing a clearer picture on defense, and Jay Hill’s comments on Thursday pointed to four names that are climbing fast.
One of the biggest shifts came with Nate Marshall. A little while ago, the second-year edge rusher seemed to be sliding out of the conversation after multiple press conferences went by without his name coming up.
Instead, it was Dominic Nichols, Lugard Edokpayi, Carter Meadows, and Tariq Boney getting the attention. That changed on Thursday when Hill singled Marshall out.
"Nate Marshall has done some really nice things the last couple days.. Marshall's been dynamic the last couple days," Hill said.
Marshall saw plenty of action for Michigan last season, and while he’s not expected to jump John Henry Daley or win the edge rusher battle over Nichols and Cam Brandt, there still looks to be a real role for him. Michigan wants to stay fresh on defense, and the more it can get out of Marshall, the better.
Mason Curtis is another player whose standing looks stronger than the buzz around him might suggest. With Rod Moore back and Chris Bracy arriving from Memphis, Curtis had faded a bit in the conversation.
But Hill made it clear the staff views him as a starter, even if he may not be in the first group on Sept. 5.
"Well, we're treating him just like a starter right now, because he's playing a lot," Hill said. "Him, Chris Bracy, Rod Moore, those guys, those three guys right now on paper are gonna play a lot. That will keep him healthy, and that will keep us in a good spot, and then Jordan Young has done a lot of great things, too, in the safety spot, so those four guys continue to improve over the next little bit."
Curtis was Michigan’s No. 8 tackler last season and also came away with an interception. At 6'5", he gives the Wolverines a different kind of body to work with in the secondary.
Shamari Earls was already trending up, and Hill’s update only confirmed it. The sophomore has made a clear jump and is playing with real confidence right now.
"Shamari Earls has really made a great step forward. He's playing at a very high level right now," Hill said.
Earls has locked down the No. 4 cornerback spot behind Michigan’s top trio, while the No. 5, No. 6, and No. 7 jobs are still being sorted out. That puts Earls in position for a significant role this fall.
The last name on the rise is Nathaniel Staehling, the North Dakota State transfer who did not take part in spring ball but is making his presence felt now. Kyle Whittingham had already praised him, and Hill echoed that confidence.
"Yeah, Nathaniel's doing a really good job," said Hill. "You see a player that's played a lot of college football.
He does a good job staying square, does a good job being physical, knows his assignments. He's really picked up the defense fast.
So I'm excited about his future and what he's doing right now."
Linebacker is the spot drawing the most attention on defense, and it sounds like Staehling, Troy Bowles, Chase Taylor, and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng have pulled away from the rest of the group. Hill also noted that Michigan will use three linebackers on the field more often this season, which should give Staehling plenty of chances to show what he can do.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Landed An Early Ohio Recruiting Win Fans Will Love
Monsanna Torbert Jr. gave Michigan an early jolt on the recruiting trail, becoming a hard commitment for the Wolverines 2027 class after the four-star cornerback out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati chose Ann Arbor over several major programs. For a staff that has long made its living selling defense and development, landing one of Ohios most intriguing prospects so far ahead of signing day is the kind of move that can ripple well beyond one pledge.
Torbert is regarded as a top national cornerback prospect, and his decision points to the kind of impression Michigan made during his visit. The coaching staff and its defensive philosophy clearly resonated, which is especially notable considering where he comes from and who else was in the mix. For Michigan, it is an early win in a neighbors backyard, and the real question now is how firmly the Wolverines can hold onto it as the recruiting process keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans O-Line Is Nearly Set But One Key Question Remains
With the opener against Western Michigan closing in, Michigan still has one last bit of line work to sort through. The Wolverines have a pretty clear shape up front, with Blake Frazier and Andrew Sprague lining up at tackle, Jake Guarnera at center and Evan Link set on the left side of the interior. Even with that outline taking form, the staff has not officially settled on a starting offensive line, which keeps a little intrigue attached to a unit that will be critical no matter who gets the nod.
The biggest unresolved spot is the guard job next to Link, where Nathan Efobi and Brady Norton are still vying for the assignment. Andrew Babalola remains sidelined for now, and when he is ready to return he may first be used as an extra blocker rather than being thrown immediately into the full-time mix. For Michigan, the broader picture is encouraging because most of the front appears close to defined, but the final choice at guard will be one of the details worth watching when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Rookies Are Already Forcing The NFL To Notice
Detroit got an early look at why Derrick Moore was such a coveted draft pick. The former Michigan edge rusher, selected 44th overall in the 2026 NFL draft, made his mark in a preseason game against the Commanders with a sack and two forced fumbles, a quick reminder that his game can translate fast to the next level. For a Lions team expecting him to help its pass rush right away, that kind of debut matters.
Rayshaun Benny is giving Baltimore reason to keep paying attention, too. The former Wolverines defensive lineman, a seventh-round pick, added a sack in the Ravens preseason win over Minnesota and strengthened his case for a spot on the 53-man roster. It is the kind of early production that can change how teams view late-round picks, especially when roster decisions start getting tight. [Read more 🡒]