Staying healthy is always a critical part of any football season. For Michigan football, though, the Wolverines first have to get healthy.
That's a nod to the fact that some of the most talented players on the 2026 roster were dealing with injuries.
John Henry Daley, the Utah transfer who had 11.5 sacks last season, suffered an Achilles injury that ended his season for the Utes last November. Despite that, Henry Daley was ranked as one of the top players available in the portal,
Michigan will need to replace the production of Derrick Moore, and Henry Daley is the ideal candidate. He's been projected as an All-American, and he told The Michigan Inisider that he is 100 percent.
#Michigan EDGE John Henry Daley confirmed that he’s ready to go for the start of fall camp and even has bulked up to 263-pounds.
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) July 24, 2026
“Physically, I’m as good as I’ve ever been.”
Daley ranked as one of top players in the @247SportsPortal. https://t.co/1tPu6hKXZF pic.twitter.com/1asaYZ9inU
“Physically, I’m as good as I’ve ever been," Daley said in a recent interview. He's said he's up to 263 pounds and is ready to go for fall camp.
That's great news in its own right, but Michigan football fans should be jumping for joy when they find out that former five-star tackle Andrew Babalola is 100 percent. He confirmed that in an interview with the Michigan Insider, which could open the door for him to start this fall.
Highest-rated offensive lineman in Michigan football history is ready to roll
The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle from Kansas, Babaola, is the highest-rated offensive-line signee in program history. He was on track to play last season, but had to miss the 2025 season due to an ACL injury at the end of fall camp.
Marich reported on X that Babalola was "completely back" and "fully healthy for fall camp." That's excellent news for Kyle Whittingham and offensive line coach Jim Harding.
Babalola could play guard or tackle. The same can be said about Evan Link, who should bump inside. Michigan football could have an offensive line of Blake Frazier, Andrew Babalola, Jake Guarnera, Evan Link, and Andrew Sprague. Guarnera is the obivous center. Outside of that, players can be moved around.
That would give Harding a lot to work with. Babalola will have a lot to prove on the field to unseat some of last season's starters; however, there's a good chance that he's one of the best five offensive linemen at some point this season.
It could take Babalola or even Henry-Daley a minute to get their feet wet, but it sounds like both should be full-time contributors this season, which is a game-changer for Whittingham.
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