When Michigan football takes the field for the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday, the Wolverines will be without some of their best players on both sides of the ball.
Defensively, Michigan football won't have players like Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Will Johnson, or Josaiah Stewart. Makari Paige also seems out for the game, so many of the dudes responsible for the win over Ohio State won't be on the field.
On offense, Kalel Mullings will be out, along with left tackle Myles Hinton and projected first-round tight end Colston Loveland. That's part of the reason why the spread is double digits.
Some players will need to step up and for a few, this bowl game offers them a chance to solidify their spot on the depth chart moving forward. Here are three to keep an eye on Tuesday.
Jordan Marshall
We talked about this earlier this week, but that was before it was known that Kalel Mullings would be out. It was suspected but Marshall and Benjamin Hall will be getting the carries against Alabama.
Justice Haynes was just signed and I love the ability of the former five-star recruit. He'll be a stud at Michigan. But Marshall is a stud too. He was a top-100 recruit and has flashed at times this season, including a 63-yard kickoff return.
The offensive line will have some moving pieces, but I'm excited to see what Marshall can do. He got eight carries all season and surely, he'll surpass that against Alabama as he will try to lay claim to RB1.
Andrew Sprague
Along with Marshall, Andrew Sprague is one of my favorites from the 2024 class. He's also one of the most overlooked. That happens to offensive linemen but this dude is 6-foot-8 and was ranked 117th overall when it was all said and done in the 2024 class.
Ever since Sprague arrived on campus, there has been a positive buzz about his development. The buzz is that he will be a good player. He's looked the part from day one and on Tuesday, he will make his first career start. In practice that was open to reporters, Sprague was the first-team right tackle. Evan Link was playing left tackle.
Myles Hinton isn't playing which provides an opportunity for Sprague to lock down a potential starting spot going into next season. I'd like to see what he could do at left tackle. Unless he has improved dramatically in the past month, Link is a guard.
But I'm excited to see Sprague start for the first time and if he plays well, that will lessen the need for an offensive lineman in the portal, although I believe Link will remind Michigan football and its fans that at least one tackle is still needed.
Trey Pierce
Michigan football will be without three regular starters on the defensive line, but this bowl game is a great chance for some young guys to emerge such as defensive tackle Trey Pierce.
The 6-foot-2, 315-pound defensive tackle will get the start against Alabama and it's a huge opportunity for Pierce who will help fill the spots vacated by Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant.
Ike Iwunnah will probably get some snaps too, but I'd like to see Pierce get some extended action. Enow Etta is another guy that Michigan football is playing at defensive tackle. He's also a redshirt freshman. Pierce is a true sophomore.
Pierce is experienced and even though Michigan football will need another defensive tackle from the portal, hopefully, Pierce can take a leap and it starts with a good game in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama.