Fall camp is just around the corner for Michigan football in what will be the first season for the Wolverines under new head coach Kyle Whittingham.
With all of the scandals that have plagued the football program, with the Sherrone Moore fiasco, and now Warde Manuel stepping down at the end of the year, it will be good to get back to football.
Whittingham's job is to win football games. He's won over 67 percent of them throughout his career with the Utah Utes, which includes multiple conference titles, including two in the Pac-12.
If the Wolverines are going to contend for the BIg Ten championship in 2026, or have a shot at reaching the College Football Playoff, Whittingham will need to get the most out of this Michigan football roster. Moore certainly didn't do that last season, or in 2024.
Looking ahead to fall camp with that in mind, here are three Michigan players who are flying under the radar.
3. Hogan Hansen
After turning some heads as a freshman with seven receptions for 78 yards, the talented tight end couldn't stay healthy in 2026. He had a weekly presence on the injury report, which limited him to just four games as Hogan Hansen wound up with six receptions for 74 yards.
The talent is there. It's apparent. Hogan has 13 receptions over the past two seasons for 178 yards. He can be a mismatch nightmare and one of Bryce Underwood's most reliable targets. Zach Marshall probably has the edge as far as being the starter after 16 receptions for 199 yards last season.
However, there is more talent at the tight end position than meets the eye. Hansen is a dude who can play on Sundays. So can Marshall. Yet, it feels like Hansen has been forgotten about due to the injuries.
This offseason, he is back to 100 percent. There shouldn't be anything holding him back this fall, which could finally lead to the breakout season Michigan football fans were hoping for in 2025.
2. Chase Taylor
Michigan did everything it could to add an impact linebacker from the transfer portal this winter, but in the end, the Wolverines might be happy that they stood pat.
Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng feels like a star in the making. You also have Troy Bowles, who had 27 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack last season.
Chase Taylor, a 6-foot-2, 237-pound linebacker, played in 10 games for Michigan football as a freshman. He didn't set the world on fire, but didn't look out of place either. Taylor is one of the linebackers who emerged this spring, and he should see plenty of snaps this season for the Wolverines.
Nathaniel Staehling is another name to know. The North Dakota State transfer should factor into the linebacker room as well, but with Taylor set to emerge along with Owusu-Boateng and Bowles, the Wolverines could be much better than expected at linebacker this season.
1. Deyvid Palepale
Defensive tackle, like linebacker, is a position where Michigan feels a little thin. The top three should be stout with Trey Pierce, Enow Etta, and Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea. However, the Wolverines are going to need more than three quality defensive tackles to make it through the season.
There are some options among the true freshman. Alister Vallejo and Titan Davis have each generated some positive buzz and could work their way into the rotation.
Another to keep an eye on is Deyvid Palepale. The 6-foot-2, 335-pounder only played in two games last season, but was named Scout Team Player of the Week on defense twice. He earned some positive buzz this spring, too, and the new coaching staff might be able to get more out of him.
It takes a year or two for defensive linemen to develop anyway. Palepale isn't one to offer much in terms of a pass rush; however, he could be exactly what the Wolverines need in terms of a run stuffer, and stopping the run was a major issue last season.
All three players on this list could have a chance to start, but even if they don't, they should be a critical part of the two-deep.
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