Michigan football spring practice will be starting before you know it, and the excitement surrounding the program is palpable with some adults in the room now that Kyle Whittingham is the head coach.
There were some big changes in the personnel/recruiting department on Tuesday. There was also a prominent decommitment, but that's just part of the turnover.
It feels like it's full-steam ahead for 2026, while the personnel department should get some new additions and reinforcements in short order.
That's not going to impact the 2026 roster, though, which is a really good one. Some have projected Michigan football to be a playoff team, but the Wolverines should be in the mix as they were in 2025, until the loss to Ohio State knocked them out for good.
If Michigan football is going to be a College Football Playoff team in 2026, it will need some transfers to deliver and here are four with the most to prove going into spring ball.
Nathaniel Staehling, LB
Nathaniel Staehling transferred from North Dakota State, where he was the starting Mike linebacker. He had three interceptions last season and two that were returned for touchdowns.
Staehling isn't rated as highly and isn't as high-profile as some other transfer targets, but he was a team captain at NDSU. He finished with 74 tackles (33 solo), a sack and a pass breakup.
He might not be the most talented or physically gifted linebacker in the world, but the Wolverines have guys like Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Chase Taylor. What they don't have is experience.
Staehling has that, and this spring, he will need to prove that he's got the ability to be one of Michigan's starting inside linebackers.
Taylor Tatum, DB
The addition of Taylor Tatum caught some Michigan football fans off guard. He was the former No. 1 running back recruit in the 2024 class. The running back room seemed crowded. Yet, Tatum is actually playing safety, something he hasn't done before.
Tatum shouldn't be expected to make an immediate impact. He was injured last season, so who knows what the spring will look like, but it would be nice to get a look and see if turning into a defensive back is a move that could lead to legitimate playing time in the future.
Jaime Ffrench, WR
The former top-100 wide receiver recruit will have plenty to prove this spring after just one reception for six yards last season.
Texas had a crowded depth chart at wide receiver. Ffrench still has plenty of talent, even though he was rated as a three-star transfer from 247 Sports.
Michigan pushed hard for him. Ffrench isn't guaranteed to get on the field, though. He will have to earn his playing time with Channing Goodwin, J.J. Buchanan, and Travis Johnson all eyeing roles along with last season's top wideout, Andrew Marsh.
So for Ffrench, this is an important spring.
Jonah Lea'ea, DT
John Henry Daley would be on this list, but he's not expected to make a full return until fall camp. He could return for summer workouts, which would be huge.
Henry Daley has to prove he can produce the way he did before the injury. Jonah Lea'ea needs to prove he can play in the Big Ten, too.
Lea'ea had 38 tackles last season with 22 solo tackles. He also had 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack. Those are solid numbers for a defensive tackle. Lea'ea needs to build on what he did last season, in the Big Ten, by becoming a disruptive force on the interior.
Enow Etta and Trey Pierce are the sure-fire starters. Lea'ea should be able to grab the other starting D-line position and a lot of snaps, assuming he can keep the arrow pointing up. Building on what he did last season, in a tougher conference, won't be easy.
Yet, Lea'ea will get the benefit of facing Michigan's talented offensive line every day this spring, which should help him get battle-tested for the Big Ten.