The Michigan football spring game will feature modified play rules, with starters only playing the first quarter. Quarterback Bryce Underwood will play the entire first quarter, while freshman Tommy Carr and redshirt freshman Chase Herbstreit will alternate in the second half.
Key points
Michigan football spring game features modified play rules
Starters play only the first quarter with 'thud' contact
Bryce Underwood plays the entire first quarter
Tommy Carr and Chase Herbstreit alternate in the second half
It's hard to know what anybody will be able to take away from this Michigan football spring game.
Big Ten Network's Jake Butt detailed the outline of the game on "The Blueprint" podcast; it'll feature several modifications to a typical game.
Per his report, starters will play only the first quarter and, even then, will only play to âthudâ â making contact but no tackling to the ground. Quarterback Bryce Underwood will play the entire first quarter for both teams; quarters 2-4 will be full tackle. Freshman QB Tommy Carr will play for both teams the entire second quarter; in the second half, Carr will play for one side while redshirt freshman Chase Herbstreit will play for the other side. They'll face "vanilla" defenses, only playing two high safeties, with no blitzes and an even front on every down.
Team Blue quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) makes a pass against Team Maize during the first half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
Team Blue quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) makes a pass against Team Maize during the first half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
And yet, it will still be football in a game-like setting, and there are plenty of players to watch out for as they fight for depth chart positioning. The five biggest:
RB Savion Hiter
While he doesn't come in with the same hype as Bryce Underwood a season ago, he's not that far off: Hiter is ranked as the nation's top running back recruit for 2026, and the No. 12 overall player, per 247 Sports' composite rankings.
Coaches and teammates gave glowing reviews throughout the spring, and his high school tape and stats are impressive â more than 3,000 yards and 50 touchdowns the past two seasons.
Q&A
What are the rules for the Michigan football spring game?
The spring game will have starters playing only the first quarter with 'thud' contact, and the second half will feature full tackling.
Who will play quarterback in the Michigan spring game?
Bryce Underwood will play the entire first quarter, followed by freshman Tommy Carr in the second quarter, and redshirt freshman Chase Herbstreit in the second half.
What type of defenses will be used in the Michigan football spring game?
The defenses will be 'vanilla', using only two high safeties and no blitzes throughout the game.
When is the Michigan football spring game scheduled?
The Michigan football spring game is scheduled for April 19, 2025.
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At 6 feet and 200 pounds, Hiter is already built like an elite back despite only being on campus for three months. He's been billed as "explosive" and "dynamic," running with a combination of power and speed that sets him apart. While he won't have a full complement of linemen, this will be a chance to see his vision, knack for the game and power on the field for the first time.
âHe wants to learn, he listens when we ask him to do something,â fellow running back Jordan Marshall said last month. âHeâs so willing to learn, heâs excited to get better. And he not only listens to me, but no matter who it is in the running back room, and thatâs something that a good player needs to have.
WR Salesi Moa
Salesi Moa, Class of 2026 athlete who plays at Freemont High School and is from Ogden, Utah.
Salesi Moa, Class of 2026 athlete who plays at Freemont High School and is from Ogden, Utah.
Michigan's wide receiver talent is notably deeper this year and the top candidate to make an impact as a freshman is Moa. Moa played both defensive back and wideout at his Utah high school, but he's strictly a wide receiver for now.
Moa stands 6-2 and 175 pounds and racked up 63 catches for 1,272 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior at Freemont High School in Ogden, Utah. Whittingham earlier this spring said Moa looked "really good. ... Sharp" and added that he'd quickly made his way into the top four receiving group with Andrew Marsh, J.J. Buchanan and Jaime Ffrench Jr.
Defensive back Jyaire Hill compared him to U-M's last standout receiver.
âSalesi [is] real nice,â Hill said. âI was just comparing yesterday to, like, Roman Wilson. ... He real nice.â
QB Tommy Carr
Saline senior quarterback Tommy Carr (3) throws the ball during the second half against Cass Tech at Saline High School in Saline on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
Saline senior quarterback Tommy Carr (3) throws the ball during the second half against Cass Tech at Saline High School in Saline on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025
Underwood should see limited time on Saturday, which will leave the bulk of the reps to the two backups currently on hand â Carr and Herbstreit. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr (as well as the brother of Notre Dame starter CJ Carr), has impressed early in his college tenure; the Saline native is No. 2 on the depth chart.
âTommy Carr is doing a nice job, I can tell you that,â Whittingham said. âHeâs probably the one that stands out so far. Nothingâs been set in stone, obviously, but based on what weâve seen to this point, Tommy has looked like heâs got a good skill set.â
He's a dual-threat quarterback, which seems to fit the style offensive coordinator Jason Beck wants. There's no risk of anybody supplanting Underwood as the starter, but it's important to have a trusted backup.
It would be impressive if Carr, a true freshman, is truly ready for that level of spotlight, but Saturday will be a good way to get his feet wet in the Big House, should Colorado State transfer Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi â expected to join the program this summer â not be able to wrestle away the No. 2 role.
Linebacker room
Michigan linebacker Troy Bowles (18) tackles Purdue running back Malachi Thomas (24) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
Michigan linebacker Troy Bowles (18) tackles Purdue running back Malachi Thomas (24) during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
No room was as impacted by the end of last season as the linebackers.
U-M will rely on a rotation of Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, Troy Bowles and Chase Taylor, none of whom have see action in tight games. Bowles, who is on his third defensive coordinator in three years after transferring in from Georgia, is the most experienced and will be relied upon to lead the unit.
Whittingham flagged the room as one Michigan is still developing.
âThe linebackers, theyâre all young as far as relative game reps,â Whittingham said. âThatâs a work in progress, will carry through summer and carry through fall. Weâve got a couple of additions weâre making in the summer to that group that could help out, as well.â
CB Shamari Earls
Michigan defensive back Shamari Earls (2) jumps for a backflip during warmups ahead of the New Mexico game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Michigan defensive back Shamari Earls (2) jumps for a backflip during warmups ahead of the New Mexico game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Shamari Earls flipped from Georgia to Michigan prior to last season and many expected him to make an impact, but while players like Jordan Young and Elijah Dotson played meaningful snaps, Earls never quite broke into the rotation.
He played 60 snaps in 2025, appearing in six games as a defensive back without a meaningful statistic. The 6-2, 205-pound cornerback is a physical specimen and came to Ann Arbor as a top-100 recruit.
While he's behind proven corners such as Hill and Zeke Berry on the depth chart (not to mention Utah transfer Smith Snowden), the Wolverines will need depth in the back end of their defense. Players such Jamarion Vincent (a transfer from Baylor) have turned heads early this spring, but U-M could use a notable step forward from Earls in his sophomore season.
