All of the hype revolves around Bryce Underwood for obvious reasons, but besides him, who are some names that Michigan will depend upon to get the Wolverines back in the playoff mix? Here is a list of three of the most essential Wolverines who will be critical to how many wins Team 146 manufactures in 2025.
Donaven McCulley, Wide Receiver
McCulley is the only option in the wide receiver room who has had a year with over 600 yards receiving. He'll be this year's Colston Loveland, and without him, Michigan's passing game will struggle, but not to the limits like they did with Davis Warren, Alex Orji, and Jack Tuttle slinging the ball. It's not McCulley's fault that no wideout wants to come to Ann Arbor to be a primary blocker for the running backs.
McCulley's size alone is not teachable, and it means that he'll come down with 50/50 balls like he did with his lone reception in the spring game.
Rayshaun Benny, Defensive Tackle
Michigan football won the Ohio State and Alabama contests because of its defensive line. Benny is not Mason Graham and doesn't have a sidekick like Kenneth Grant, but he should be somewhere in between those two with Derrick Moore and T.J. Guy flanking him. He'll become even more dangerous if one of the other tackles can step up in the rotation and command double teams.
Dominic Zvada, Kicker
Zvada will win a game or two this fall because of his NFL-ready leg. Michigan surely doesn't win the last two games of the season without him. Stuart Blake kicked in the spring game and missed some chip shots that Zvada would have had no problem with. He's only missed one field goal from 50 plus in his career. With the way he practices his craft, it wouldn't be a stretch to see him bang in a 60 yarder on any given Saturday.
It would take a massive collapse from Zvada to not win the Lou Groza award and become the highest drafted special teamer in Michigan football history, even higher then the third round, which is where Jake Moody was chosen. Some may even venture to say that Zvada is the most important piece to the team outside of Underwood.