Michigan’s 2026 roster is still taking shape, but one name already stands out as a player whose role is set to grow fast: sophomore edge rusher Nate Marshall.
The Wolverines’ list of the 25 most important players for 2026 has been rolling out this summer, with Zack Marshall, Carter Meadows, Evan Link and Salesi Moa already landing in spots No. 22 through No. 25. Marshall checks in at No. 21, and the case for him is pretty straightforward: Michigan needs more from its edge group, and he’s one of the players best positioned to provide it.
Marshall, an Oak Park, Ill., native, played in 11 of Michigan’s 13 games as a true freshman. He finished with three solo tackles and three assisted tackles, and his best outing came against USC on Oct. 11, when he posted a season-high two tackles.
A four-star recruit in the class of 2025, Marshall arrived with plenty of pedigree. Rivals ranked him as the third-best player in Illinois, and now the expectation is that his second season brings a bigger workload and a bigger impact.
That need is real for Michigan after major departures up front. Derrick Moore and Jaishawn Barham, the team’s two sack leaders from 2025, are gone to the NFL. TJ Guy, another important edge presence, also moved on after signing as an undrafted free agent.
With that much production out the door, the players behind them have to step forward if the defense is going to keep rolling.
After Michigan’s spring game, new head coach Kyle Whittingham addressed the defensive line and mentioned Marshall briefly.
"Nate Marshall has shown progress," Whittingham said. "Cam Brandt had a really nice spring.
He was consistent for us all spring long. Dropped a few pounds and really helped his game.
He lost five to 10 pounds and gained more quickness and more burst off the edge.
The edge spot still appears to have a clear name at the top. Utah transfer John Henry Daley is expected to lead the group in Ann Arbor after earning All-American honors as a junior last season under Whittingham. He’s also on the 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list, which goes to the student-athlete with the biggest impact on and off the field, and he enters the year with plenty of preseason attention.
Even with Daley in place, Michigan’s rotation behind him is less settled. That’s where Marshall comes in. He already has a year of college football under his belt, and that experience should give him an early edge over incoming five-star Carter Meadows, who has yet to play a college snap.
The expectation is simple: more snaps, more responsibility, and better numbers than last season for Marshall as Michigan tries to replace what it lost off the edge.
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