There is a lot of anticipation for Kyle Whittingham's first season as the Michigan football head coach.
It feels like Michigan made massive upgrade in the hire of Whittingham, although it took some wayward steps to get there from Sherrone Moore.
The program is in a much better place now, a place where it should be contending for the College Football Playoff. Whittingham even said he was hired that making the 12-team playoff is the expectation at a place like Michigan.
The Wolverines have missed it in back-to-back seasons after making the four-team playoff three straight times from 2021 to 2023. We all know that Bryce Underwood will need to take the next step in his development if Michigan is going to get there.
Others have to step up, too, and here are the three most important Michigan football players not named Bryce Underwood this season for the Wolverines.
Andrew Marsh, WR
The 6-foot-1 wideout had a stellar freshman season for Michigan football, catching 45 passes for 651 yards and four touchdowns. What's even more impressive is that 41 of those receptions and 611 of those yards came against Big Ten teams.
Marsh didn't have a catch in the opener against New Mexico. He was also held without a reception against Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Ohio State later in the season. He was open in that game, though. Bryce Underwood just didn't see him on a few occasions.
Marsh defended his quarterback recently. The two have strong chemistry, which should be even better this season. As good as Marsh was, he needs to be even better, like First-Team All-Big Ten.
The ability is there. Marsh played up to that level for a big chunk of the season, with four games of at least 76 yards receiving, and two over 100 in the Big Ten. More consistency will be key in 2026, but Marsh could easily be one of the Big Ten's best wideouts. He was already down the stretch in 2025.
John Henry Daley, EDGE
After seven tackles and one sack during his first two seasons of college football, John Henry Daley broke out for 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and 48 tackles last season before injuring his Achilles.
Daley is expected to be 100 percent soon. There aren't expected to be any limitations on him for fall camp, which is massive for the former Utah transfer.
Whittingham landed three of the best players on Utah's roster last season and Henry Daley is one of them. Michigan has some talented pass rushers, but nobody outside of him seems ready to fill the shoes of Derrick Moore, an All-Big Ten performer, who was drafted by Detroit.
Nate Marshall and Carter Meadows can both be special. They should each have an impact this season, but if the pass rush is going to dominate, Henry Daley needs to lead the way.
Trey Pierce, DT
At 6-foot-2, 310 pounds, Trey Pierce started all 13 games for Michgan last season, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten after notching 30 tackles and one tackle for loss.
During his first two seasons, Pierce was credited with five solo stops. Last season, the rising senior had 18. During the spring, Whittimngham said the defensive line was the strength of the team. Pierce is a big reason for that.
The former three-star recruit seems due for a breakout season, and if Michigan is going to be a dominant defense this season, which it needs to be if it's going to make the 12-team playoff, it has to dominate in the trenches, which starts, on defense, with Trey Pierce.
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