Where Michigan Football position group battles stand after spring ball

Tight End

This group is less about a clear battle and more about figuring out what it looks like in the new offense. With Marlin Klein off to the NFL, there isn’t a proven No. 1 option. Hogan Hansen, Zack Marshall and Deakon Tonielli have all played, but none have carried the load for a full season. Marshall feels like the best bet to emerge, especially considering his 2025 snap count, but this is a group that may be used differently depending on how the offense evolves under Jason Beck. The presence of H-backs like Jalen Hoffman and Eli Owens adds another layer, and how those pieces are used could shape this room more than a traditional depth chart would.

Offensive Line

This one’s less about finding bodies and more about deciding who works best where. Andrew Sprague, Evan Link, Blake Frazier and Andrew Babalola all factor in at tackle, and it feels like three of those four will start with the fourth sliding into that sixth-man role. Inside, Jake Guarnera is the only true center option with experience, which makes that spot important to solidify. The guard positions are still open, with players like Nathan Efobi and Brady Norton competing. This group will likely look different in fall camp than it did in the spring.

Defensive Line

Things feel a lot more stable here than they might have looked on paper a few months ago, with the Wolverines’ depth at edge presenting the only real question mark. John Henry Daley is expected to be the centerpiece off the edge once he’s fully back, and behind him there are a few names that will continue competing. Cameron Brandt, Dominic Nichols and Nate Marshall are all in the mix, with Marshall in particular being an interesting option as a once-highly-touted recruit stepping into his sophomore season. It’s also worth noting Brandt played the most snaps of any returning edge in 2025, and Nichols was one of the defense’s highest-graded overall players. Inside, Enow Etta and Trey Pierce boast plenty of experience to anchor things, with guys like Jonah Lea’ea also pushing for significant time. This doesn’t feel like a position battle as much as it does a rotation taking shape.

Linebacker

This room lost a lot of experience, and while there’s room for optimism, it’s still iffy. Troy Bowles, Chase Taylor and Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng were the three names Whittingham pointed to at this position coming out of spring ball, which says a lot about how things are trending. Transfers like Nathaniel Staehling will factor in at some point, but as of now, the core looks like it’s coming from the returning group. This is a position that may continue to evolve through the summer.

Secondary

There’s a solid mix of stability and unknown here. The safety group should be anchored by veteran transfer Chris Bracy and players like Mason Curtis (and Rod Moore if he’s fully healthy). Around them, Jordan Young give Michigan youth and a bit of experience on the back end.

#Michigan safety Rod Moore reacted to having offseason knee surgery and his upcoming return for a sixth season.

“I’m about to be back at practice soon. I feel the best that I’ve felt ever since I tore my ACL. It’s super exciting.”pic.twitter.com/vo8qfZdUm6

— Charles Post (@chas\_post23) April 17, 2026 There’s still some sorting out to do at corner, but mostly just stemming from an interesting battle for the starting nickel job. Zeke Berry and Smith Snowden both have experience there, and Jay Hill has been taking his time figuring out the best fit.

That’s really where things stand coming out of spring. Some spots are locked in, a few are trending toward answers, and others are still pretty wide open. The next few months — and especially fall camp — will go a long way in determining how all this settles before Week 1.