Updated Friday, September 4, 2026, ahead of the Western Michigan opener. Michigan does not publish a depth chart, so this is the projected two deep based on fall camp reporting and what Kyle Whittingham has said publicly. It is updated after every game.
Whittingham’s first Michigan team is built around sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, a deep defensive front led by Utah transfer and All American John Henry Daley, and a special teams overhaul with two transfer specialists. The concern is linebacker, where all four of last year’s top players are gone and the projected starter is a North Dakota State transfer.
Offense
| Position | Starter | Backup | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Bryce Underwood | Tommy Carr (Fr.) | Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi |
| RB | Jordan Marshall | Savion Hiter (Fr.) | Bryson Kuzdzal, Micah Ka’apana |
| WR (X) | Andrew Marsh | Travis Johnson (Fr.) | Jamar Browder |
| WR (Z) | Jaime Ffrench | Salesi Moa (Fr.) | Kendrick Bell |
| WR (Slot) | JJ Buchanan | Channing Goodwin | — |
| TE | Zack Marshall OR Hogan Hansen | Deakon Tonielli | Jalen Hoffman (H-back) |
| LT | Blake Frazier | Andrew Babalola | Marky Walbridge |
| LG | Evan Link | Luke Hamilton | — |
| C | Jake Guarnera | Houston Kaahaaina-Torres | — |
| RG | Nathan Efobi | Brady Norton | Ace Hamilton |
| RT | Andrew Sprague | Malakai Lee | Avery Gach |
Defense
| Position | Starter | Backup | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | John Henry Daley | Nate Marshall | Carter Meadows (Fr.), Lugard Edokpayi |
| DE | Dominic Nichols | Cam Brandt | Benny Patterson, Tariq Boney (Fr.) |
| DT | Trey Pierce | Jonah Lea’ea | Bobby Kanka |
| DT | Enow Etta | Deyvid Palepale | Alister Vallejo (Fr.), Travis Moten |
| LB | Troy Bowles | Chase Taylor | Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng |
| LB | Nathaniel Staehling | Aisea Moa | Max Alford, Aden Reeder (Fr.) |
| CB | Jyaire Hill | Shamari Earls | Jo’Ziah Edmond |
| CB | Zeke Berry | Jamarion Vincent | I’Marion Stewart |
| Nickel | Smith Snowden | Mason Curtis | Jordan Young |
| S | Rod Moore | Mason Curtis | Kainoa Winston |
| S | Chris Bracy | Jordan Young | Jacob Oden |
Special Teams
| K | Trey Butkowski (Pitt transfer, Lou Groza semifinalist in 2025) |
| P | Cameron Brown (UNLV transfer) |
| KR | Savion Hiter, Smith Snowden, Andrew Marsh |
| PR | Andrew Marsh; Snowden, Hiter |
Position Breakdown
Quarterback. Underwood is the starter and the reason for the offseason optimism; his passing has drawn the most praise of anyone in camp. Whittingham named true freshman Tommy Carr the backup ahead of the more experienced Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
Running back. Jordan Marshall starts, but five star freshman Savion Hiter is expected to split carries almost immediately and will return kickoffs.
Receiver. Andrew Marsh is the No. 1 and the punt returner. JJ Buchanan and Jaime Ffrench round out the starting three, with freshmen Travis Johnson and Salesi Moa and sophomore Channing Goodwin in situational roles. This is the group new coordinator Jason Beck is counting on for a more modern passing game.
Tight end. Zack Marshall and Hogan Hansen have battled all offseason and both will play. Jalen Hoffman is the H-back in heavier sets.
Offensive line. The projected five are Blake Frazier, Evan Link, Jake Guarnera, Nathan Efobi and Andrew Sprague, but freshman Andrew Babalola, the highest rated line recruit in program history, drew a comparison from Whittingham to his two first round Utah tackles and could take a tackle spot early. Brady Norton is the top interior reserve.
Defensive line. The strength of the team. John Henry Daley had 11.5 sacks at Utah and is fully back from the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 season. Dominic Nichols and sophomore Nate Marshall, whom Whittingham called one of the best pass rushers on the team, have moved past Cam Brandt. Trey Pierce and Enow Etta start inside with Utah transfer Jonah Lea’ea rotating heavily.
Linebacker. The weak spot. Troy Bowles is the only returning contributor; NDSU transfer Nathaniel Staehling, whom Whittingham called a tackling machine, projects to start next to him, with sophomore Chase Taylor also getting significant snaps.
Secondary. Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry and Utah transfer Smith Snowden (nickel) are the starting trio, with sophomore Shamari Earls playing a large share behind them. Sixth year senior Rod Moore returns at safety on a pitch count next to Memphis transfer Chris Bracy. Mason Curtis is the versatile first man off the bench.
Special teams. Both specialists are new: Trey Butkowski replaces Dominic Zvada at kicker and Cameron Brown takes over at punter. Whittingham hired Kerry Coombs to run the unit after it was a liability in 2025.
The Bottom Line
Michigan’s opener is a first look at Underwood in Jason Beck’s offense and at a defense built on Utah imports up front and a rebuilt second level. The Wolverines are 27.5 point favorites over Western Michigan; the preview is at Western Michigan vs. Michigan, and the full slate is on our Michigan schedule. This page is updated after every game.