With Big Ten Media Days being underway in Chicago, the media is starting to release their projections for Big Ten teams. Michigan football was projected to finish fifth in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and USC. That poll obviously shows some skepticism about the Wolverines, which is very fair given the massive changes in the program over the past 7 months.
Another projection that has shown skepticism is USA Today's All-Big Ten predictions, which include only one Wolverine in EDGE John Henry Daley. While it's fair to have questions about how well Michigan's stars will play in 2026, there are definitely a handful of players who have more than a chance of being All-Big Ten by the end of the season. Let's look at three.
Running Back Jordan Marshall
This one was a bit puzzling to me. Jordan Marshall was elite last season after Justice Haynes went out with injuries. In the four complete games he played as the starter, Marshall rushed for 570 yards and seven touchdowns. Across a 12 game season, that comes out to about 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns. He even rushed for 61 yards on seven carries against Ohio State before leaving the game injured.
Three running backs were listed instead of Marshall: Ohio State's Bo Jackson, Rutgers' Antwan Raymond, and UCLA's Wayne Knight (listed as all-purpose). Marshall had more yards per rush than Jackson and Raymond, and had more touchdowns than Jackson and Knight. He was also within 450 rushing yards of all three, despite being a backup for the majority of the season. While Marshall will be splitting snaps with Savion Hiter and Bryson Kuzdzal this season, he should be able to put up great stats as the lead back. It's not crazy to expect Marshall on this list at the end of the season.
Cornerback Jyaire Hill
Jyaire Hill is undoubtedly one of Michigan Football's most important players in 2026. The Wolverines don't have a ton of depth at the cornerback position, but they certainly have some good talent. Hill has all the skills to be an elite, lockdown corner. He's 6'2 and can reportedly run a sub 4.40 second 40 yard dash. Those are elite athletic traits.
We saw Hill make big plays on occasion last season. Most notably, he had an interception on Ohio State's first offensive possession. But that wasn't consistent enough throughout the season. Obviously, part of that falls on coaching. How much of it falls on coaching remains to be seen. The fact is that Hill has the skills necessary to be an elite cornerback. He's going to be tested a lot in the Big Ten, but the defense around him should be much better than it was a year ago. If Michigan's defense lives up to the hype it's getting, look for Hill to have an All-Big Ten season.
Safety Rod Moore
When it comes to Rod Moore, it's very understandable why the media wouldn't project an All-Big Ten season. After all, Moore has essentially missed two seasons. But when he's healthy, he completely changes the Michigan defense. We briefly saw it last season. When Rod Moore was able to lead the defense, they were a much better unit. His impact goes beyond his own talent.
His talent is nothing to scoff at either. Moore has a nose for being where the ball is, and all Michigan fans know that he gets better when the lights are at their brightest. A healthy Rod Moore could be the difference between Michigan losing a game and winning.
While it's unfair to assume that Moore is going to return to the same physical level he was on before his injuries, his greatest skill is his intelligence on the field. After spending the last two seasons watching film, there's no doubt that this is going to be the most mature and intelligent version of Rod Moore we've seen. Watch for Moore, if healthy, to contend for the most interceptions on the team. And if he's able to do that, he should get some serious consideration for the All-Big Ten teams.
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