Michigan football players have been announcing their return for the 2026 season via social media and the latest to do so is defensive lineman Cameron Brandt.
Rod Moore was the biggest name among the slew of Michigan football players who announced their returns on Thursday night. Yet, there were plenty who will be starters or contibutors next season such as Nate Marshall (EDGE), Dominic Nichols (EDGE), Trey Pierce (DL), Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (LB) and Shamar Earls (CB). All of those guys should be on the two-deep.
Cameron Brandt gives Michigan another starting-level player back on D-line
The same can be said for Cameron Brandt (6-4, 270). He's played in 40 games over the past three seasons for the Wolverines with 39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 career sacks. This past season, Brandt, who started the Citrus Bowl game, had 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks.
It was a little disappointing based on what he did in 2024, notching 13 tackles, but four tackles for loss, and three sacks. Brandt was solid against the run, though. He's a defensive end, probably more than a true EDGE, but he can hold up in the run game, and provide some pass-rush help, too.
With Derrick Moore and TJ Guy off to the NFL, it will be valuable to have a veteran contributor like Brandt, along with Nichols, Nate Marshall, Carter Meadows, an incoming freshman, and Utah EDGE transfer John Henry-Daley, one of the best pass rushers in the Big 12 last season.
Some players will have to leap if the pass rush is going to be as good as it's been in previous seasons, but the pieces are there. Brandt could be one of them. At the very least, he's got a decent floor as a run defender, and should see plenty of snaps on run downs.