One of the most highly recruited players on the Michigan football roster, Nate Marshall, is no longer on the team, according to Chris Balas of The Wolverine.
Marshall is going to enter the transfer portal. The interest should be strong for the former top-50 recruit, who played in 11 games as a true freshman.
Marshall had a role in the Michigan football team this season. However, it wasn't quite as big as some expected it to be. The sophomore has played in every game this season, but has only one tackle in the last four games. He hasn't had multiple tackles since the Minnesota game.
A four-star EDGE coming out of high school, Marshall was ranked 49th overall. He was supposed to be a cornerstone piece on the defensive line. Early in the 2026 season even, the development looked like it was on the right track with 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Tariq Boney and Carter Meadows are also on the roster. Boney has emerged and surpassed Marshall on the depth chart along with Benny Patterson. Patterson and Boney have played more this season.
It's hard to say exactly why Marshall is deciding to leave. The culture isn't great right now. Michigan football is 5-4. Kyle Whittingham is throwing players under the bus in post-game press conferences, and it's hard to have hope for the future, especially if Whittingham is back.
That doesn't feel like a sure thing. Michigan's defense has also been fantastic, so losing a player on that side of the ball isn't ideal for Whittingham. Marshall was a high school recruit that flipped to Auburn and flipped back. Certainly, other teams have let him know their interest.
You have to hope that more players don't follow, but unless Michigan acts quickly, there is almost no way to stop some players from leaving. If the Wolverines are going to move on from Whittingham, they need to do it as soon as possible.
Whether you play on offense or defense, would you want to play for a coach who doesn't seem to care? Whittingham seems apathetic, and it really feels like he lost the team. The head coach said that's ridiculous, but he also scoffed at the idea of firing Jason Beck not long ago.
It was crazy to keep Beck as long as Michigan did, just like it will be crazy to keep Whittingham. He has to go, and if he doesn't, expect more departures.
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