Michigan football wrapped up spring practices on Saturday with the Wolverines' annual spring game. It put a bow on Kyle Whittingham's first spring as the head coach, and now, the season is just a few months away.
Whittingham brought back discipline and toughness this spring. He admitted that the practices were tough, but he said he wanted to find out who the tough guys were.
The players responded. We learned plenty about Michigan's position groups along the way, and here's what the depth chart could look like this fall (our best guess).
QB: Bryce Underwood, Tommy Carr and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi
Whittingham said that Bryce was the No. 1, even after he struggled in the spring game. Tommy Carr excelled. It's a great sign for the future, and honestly, the present, because Michigan didn't have a great QB room behind Underwood.
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is expected to join the team this summer and compete for the backup job. He's got plenty of starting experience (28 starts). Carr has the "it factor" though.
Regardless, Michigan football fans should feel better about the QB room after the spring.
RB: Jordan Marshall, Savion Hiter and Bryson Kuzdal
Hiter had a great spring. He met all expectations. Whittingham had nothing but positive things to say and Hiter looked the part on Saturday.
Jordan Marshall will be 1A. Hiter will be 1B. Kuzdal is a great insurance policy, considering he rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns at Maryland last season.
There is elite talent and depth. Hiter was also praised for his pass-catching skills, and his pass protection, so there is zero doubt he will be on the field a lot in 2026.
WR Starters: Andrew Marsh, J.J. Buchanan, Salesi Moa; Backups: Jamie French, Travis Johnson, Kendrick Bell and Jamar Browder
Marsh and Buchanan were held without a catch in the spring game, but they weren't on the field long. They have been stellar this spring. Moa had a stellar one-handed grab and was open in the first quarter when Underwood just missed him for a big play.
Marsh was a revelation last season. Buchanan will be a stud, at least good enough to replace the production of Donaven McCulley, and there is much more depth and upside in the WR room.
TE: Hogan Hansen and Zach Marshall; FB: Jalen Hoffman
Hogan Hansen seems due for a breakout season if he can stay healthy. Zach Marshall had a solid season in 2025 and was fifth on the team in receiving yards (199). That's a reminder of how ineffective the pass offense was last season.
Hoffman will take on the Max Bredeson role as FB/lead blocker. The drop-off won't be as drastic as it should be, considering Bredeson was truly an elite college fullback. He was the definition of a college fullback.
O-line Starters: Blake Frazier, Evan Link, Jake Guarnera, Nathan Efobi and Blake Frazier; Key Backups: Andrew Babalola, Avery Gach, Brady Norton, Ace Hamilton, Malakai Lee (FR)
Link has played fine at tackle, but he needs to play guard. Whether that's on the left or the right side remains to be seen. He's played tackle on both sides in college. Efobi was pretty solid last season.
Andrew Babalola is the elephant in the room. If he's 100 percent, it's going to be hard to keep him off the field. Whether it's at tackle or guard. It could force someone to move inside, but either way, when you include Babalola and Norton with the projected starting five, that's seven starting-caliber players for Jim Harding to work with.
DT Starters: Trey Pierce, Enow Etta and Jonah Lea'ea; Backups: Deyvid Palepale, Travis Moten, Titan Davis (FR), Alister Valljeo (FR)
Defensive tackle might end up being a strength this season. Enow Etta looks poised to be dominant in 2026, along with Trey Pierce. Titan Davis and Vallejo could make immediate impacts, too, and Lea'ea was solid in the spring game also.
DE starters: John Henry Daley and Cameron Brandt; Backups: Dom Nichols, Nate Marshall, Lugard Edokpayi and Carter Meadows.
There were concerns about the pass rush going into the spring; however, the Wolverines sacked Bryce Underwood twice in the first quarter.
John Henry Daley should be Michigan's Derrick Moore replacement after 11.5 sacks a season ago for Utah. He's supposed to be 100 percent by June, too. Nate Marshall looks ready to be a full-time contributor, while Nichols, Brandt, and Edokpayi should all be in the rotation, too, along with five-star freshman Carter Meadows.
LB: Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng and Troy Bowles; Backups: Chase Taylor and Nathaniel Staehling
Boateng is one of the most pivotal players on the roster. The 5-star recruit needs to play like one this season. Linebacker is viewed as one of the weak points, but if Boateng, Taylor and Bowles can take a step forward from last season, Michigan should be fine, especially with the way the D-line looks so far.
CB Starters: Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, and Smith Snowden (nickel); Shamari Earls, Jo'Ziah Edmond, Jamarion Vincent
Earls and Edmond had good springs. Jamarion Vincent is a true freshman who could contribute, too. But Hill, Berry, and Snowden is a top three Michigan football fans can feel really good about. They are all good enough to play in the NFL.
Safety: Rod Moore, Jordan Young, Mason Curts, and Chris Bracy
It feels like there will be plenty of rotation among these four players. The snap counts might end up being pretty similar, depending on the health of Rod Moore. Young could see some time as the nickel, too. Overall, this is another position group that could be among Michigan's most effective.
KR/PR: Andrew Marsh; K: Trey Butkowski; P: Hudson Hollenbeck
Butowski missed a 29-yard field goal in the spring game, which wasn't great. But he's got a strong track record. It will be interesting to see if Marsh is allowed to be the return guy. He seems like the best option and it would be nice to have a weapon on special teams again.
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