If you’ve been following the whirlwind in Ann Arbor lately, you know that looking at a Michigan football depth chart in 2026 feels a lot like trying to read a map while standing in the middle of a hurricane. Sherrone Moore is out. Kyle Whittingham—the man who basically built Utah football from the ground up—is in.
It's a weird time. Honestly, it’s a little jarring to see "Whittingham" next to the "Head Coach" tag in the Big Ten, but here we are. The roster he inherited isn't just a collection of names; it’s a puzzle that he’s currently trying to put together using a mix of elite five-star talent and a massive influx of transfers from his old stomping grounds in Salt Lake City.
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The Quarterback Room: Bryce Underwood is the Sun
Let's not kid ourselves. Everything on this offense orbits around Bryce Underwood.
When Whittingham took the job, the only question that mattered was: "Is Bryce staying?" On January 5th, we got the answer. He’s back. Keeping a sophomore like Underwood—who threw for 2,428 yards as a true freshman despite some serious offensive line struggles—is the biggest win of the off-season. He’s the undisputed QB1.
But look behind him. The depth chart has shifted significantly. Jadyn Davis, once the "next big thing," decided to head for the transfer portal after realizing he wasn't going to jump Underwood. In his place, Michigan grabbed Colin Hurley from LSU. Hurley hasn’t seen much college action, but he was a four-star recruit with a massive arm.
Then there’s Chase Herbstreit. He’s the backup that a lot of fans are sleeping on. He’s mostly seen as a depth piece, but in a Whittingham system that values toughness and mobility, don't be shocked if he sees some specific packages.
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Rebuilding the "Smash" in Smashmouth
The offensive line was, frankly, a mess at times in 2025. You can’t rank 105th in passing and 68th in scoring and tell me the front five were doing their jobs.
Right now, the depth chart is a "best five" experiment. The good news? Jake Guarnera and Andrew Sprague both flirted with the portal and ultimately decided to come back. That’s huge. Sprague is likely your starting Right Tackle, while Guarnera is the favorite to snap the ball at Center.
The Left Tackle spot is where things get interesting. Andrew Babalola is the name everyone wants to see. He’s got the NFL frame, but he’s been dealing with some nagging injuries. If he’s 100%, he’s the blindside protector. If not, expect Blake Frazier to slide over.
Whittingham also brought some help with him. Houston Ka’aha’aina-Torres transferred in from Nebraska via the portal. He’s a mountain of a man who can play both Guard spots.
- LT: Andrew Babalola / Blake Frazier
- LG: Nathan Efobi / Houston Ka’aha’aina-Torres
- C: Jake Guarnera / James Kavouklis
- RG: Evan Link / Brady Norton
- RT: Andrew Sprague / Ben Roebuck
The Weapons: From Marsh to Ffrench
If you like speed, the 2026 wide receiver room is actually pretty exciting. Andrew Marsh lived up to every bit of the hype last year, putting up over 600 yards as a freshman. He’s the Z-receiver.
On the other side, Michigan went out and got Jaime Ffrench from Texas. Ffrench was a top-50 recruit who just needs targets. Putting him and Marsh on the outside gives Underwood the best duo a Michigan QB has had in years.
In the slot, it’s Channing Goodwin or I’Marion Stewart. Both are quick, but keep an eye on Zion Robinson, the true freshman coming in from Texas. He’s a high-jump champion with a catch radius that doesn't make sense for his size.
Running back is the one spot where nobody is worried. Jordan Marshall is the guy. He’s a workhorse. But Whittingham loves to rotate, so expect Taylor Tatum (the Oklahoma transfer) and Savion Hiter to get plenty of carries. Hiter is a true freshman who might be the most "pure" runner on the roster.
A Defensive Identity Shift
Whittingham’s Utah teams were always defined by a "standard" on defense. Violent, disciplined, and deep.
The defensive line looks solid, mainly because Trey Pierce and Derrick Moore are still around. Moore is a legitimate All-Big Ten talent at the EDGE. Behind them, keep an eye on John Henry Daley, a transfer from Utah who knows Whittingham’s scheme inside and out.
The linebacker corps lost some depth with Cole Sullivan hitting the portal, which hurt. However, Troy Bowles (the son of Todd Bowles) is finally stepping into a starting role at MLB. He’s paired with Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, a freshman who has "future first-round pick" written all over him.
The secondary is where the most drama happened. We saw a bit of an exodus with guys like Brandyn Hillman leaving, but Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill stayed put. Whittingham also brought Smith Snowden with him from Utah. Snowden has 24 college starts and 25 pass breakups. He’s going to be the "glue guy" in that nickel-back role.
Key Defensive Starters for 2026:
- EDGE: Derrick Moore / John Henry Daley
- DT: Trey Pierce / Jonah Lea'ea (Utah transfer)
- MLB: Troy Bowles
- WLB: Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng
- CB: Jyaire Hill / Smith Snowden
- Safety: Rod Moore (Returning from injury) / Chris Bracy
Special Teams: The "Aussie" Connection
Michigan’s special teams are getting a facelift. Cameron Brown, a punter from UNLV by way of Queensland, Australia, is the new leg. He averaged nearly 43 yards per punt last year and can flip the field in an instant.
At kicker, it’s likely Trey Butkowski, a Pitt transfer who was a Freshman All-American. Reliable kicking has been a hallmark of Whittingham’s teams, and he didn't waste time addressing it in the portal.
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What to Watch Moving Forward
Look, a depth chart in January is just a piece of paper. The real movement happens in spring ball. Whittingham is notorious for being "position blind"—he doesn't care if you're a five-star or a walk-on; if you don't hit, you don't play.
The biggest hurdles remain the interior offensive line and the depth at linebacker. If one or two more veterans don't pop out of the portal before the window closes, the Wolverines might be reliant on a lot of true freshmen in the Big Ten trenches. That's a scary thought when you're playing the likes of Ohio State and Oregon.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Spring Game (April) to see how Jason Beck (the new OC) uses Bryce Underwood’s legs in the run game.
- Monitor the transfer portal window closing on January 16th to see if any late-cycle defensive tackles join the mix.
- Keep an eye on Andrew Babalola’s recovery status, as he is the literal "pivot point" for the success of this 2026 offense.