The Big House is feeling a little different lately. It isn't just the winter chill settleing over Ann Arbor; it's the sense of a massive, seismic shift. With Kyle Whittingham taking the reins from Sherrone Moore and a $12 million NIL war chest keeping Bryce Underwood in town, the university of michigan football depth chart looks like a Madden fever dream. Honestly, if you told a Michigan fan three years ago that the guy who built Utah’s "Sack Lake City" would be leading the charge with the nation’s top QB recruit, they’d have asked what was in your water.
But here we are. It's January 2026. The transfer portal just closed its primary winter window, and the roster is a mix of high-end five-star talent and gritty veterans Whittingham brought with him from the mountain west.
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The Bryce Underwood Era Begins
Let’s not bury the lead. The most important name on the university of michigan football depth chart is Bryce Underwood. Keeping him home was the first, second, and third priority for the new staff. He isn’t just a starter; he’s the franchise. Behind him, the room has thinned out because, frankly, nobody wants to sit behind a generational talent for three years.
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, the Colorado State transfer, is the clear No. 2. He’s got that gunslinger mentality—threw for over 3,000 yards in the past—and provides a veteran safety net that Michigan desperately lacked last season. It's a "break glass in case of emergency" situation, but a comfortable one. Then you’ve got young guys like Chase Taylor and Colin Hurley trying to find their footing in Jason Beck's new offensive scheme.
Beck is bringing a system that actually wants to throw the ball. Imagine that. After years of "Smash," we might actually see the "Option" part of the Spread Option get some real air time.
Rebuilding the Great Wall of Ann Arbor
The offensive line is where things got really hairy for a minute. When Moore left, the portal looked like a mass exodus. Andrew Sprague and Jake Guarnera both put their names in. Michigan fans were basically holding their collective breath for a week.
Somehow, Whittingham and OL coach Jim Harding talked them back. That’s huge. If those two hadn't returned, the university of michigan football depth chart would have been a disaster zone.
Current projected starters:
- LT: Andrew Sprague (The monster win of the off-season)
- LG: Giovanni El-Hadi (The veteran anchor)
- C: Jake Guarnera (The center of the future, now)
- RG: Evan Link
- RT: Blake Frazier
There’s some talk about Andrew Babalola pushing for a tackle spot, which might kick Frazier or Link inside. It’s a good problem to have. Harding is known for developmental miracles at Utah, so expect this group to be more "nasty" than "finesse" by the time the spring game rolls around in April.
Weapons and the "Whittingham Way"
Running back is the one spot where nobody is worried. Jordan Marshall is that dude. He’s going to be the workhorse. With Justice Haynes coming over from Alabama via the portal, Michigan has a 1A/1B situation that is arguably the best in the Big Ten. They’re going to run the ball. It’s what Whittingham does. It’s what Michigan does.
The wide receiver room is... well, it's a work in progress. Andrew Marsh is the star. He looks like he’s ready to be a WR1 from day one. After him? It’s a lot of "prove it." Channing Goodwin and I'Marion Stewart have shown flashes, but they need to be consistent. Landing Jamie French and JJ Buchanan in the portal was vital. Without them, Underwood would be throwing to a bunch of guys who aren't quite ready for the Saturday spotlight.
The Defensive Identity
On the other side of the ball, Jay Hill is the new DC. He’s basically Whittingham’s right-hand man. They run a 4-2-5 that relies on aggressive interior play and hybrid safeties.
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Losing guys like Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant to the NFL was always going to hurt. You don't just replace first-round picks. But getting Enow Etta to stay is a massive win. He’s 320 pounds of "not moving." Pair him with Rayshaun Benny, who is returning for a fifth year, and the middle of the defense still looks stout.
The linebacker corps is led by Jimmy Rolder and Cole Sullivan. Sullivan is a name you need to circle. He’s been a practice hero for a year, and now he’s the projected starter at the WILL. He’s fast, rangy, and hits like a truck.
Secondary Check:
- CB: Jyaire Hill (The lockdown guy)
- CB: Shamari Earls (Freshman with elite speed)
- Safety: Rod Moore (The heart of the defense)
- Safety: Chris Bracy (The Memphis transfer who led them in tackles)
What Most People Get Wrong About This Depth Chart
A lot of national pundits look at the coaching change and the portal losses and think Michigan is headed for a "reset" year. That’s a mistake.
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Whittingham didn’t come here to rebuild for three years. He’s 66 years old; he’s here to win now. The university of michigan football depth chart is built to be top-heavy with elite talent (Underwood, Marshall, Sprague) while filling the gaps with high-floor transfers.
The biggest limitation right now? Depth at defensive tackle. If Benny or Etta goes down, there is a massive drop-off to the freshmen like Bobby Kanka and Travis Moten. They’re talented, but asking an 18-year-old to hold the gap against Ohio State’s interior line is a tall order.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you’re following this team, keep your eyes on the "Spring Stock Up" reports. The university of michigan football depth chart is anything but settled.
- Watch the Left Tackle battle: If Babalola beats out Sprague or forces a shuffle, it means the talent level on the line is even higher than we thought.
- Underwood’s chemistry: The spring game will be the first time we see how Jason Beck utilizes Underwood’s legs. If it’s a heavy RPO (Run-Pass Option) system, Michigan will be a nightmare to defend.
- The Portal Window 2: There’s another short window in the spring. Expect Whittingham to hunt for one more veteran defensive tackle and perhaps a veteran kicker. Beckham Sunderland is the projected starter, but he’s unproven in high-leverage Big House moments.
The 2026 Wolverines are a fascinating experiment in "Legacy meets New Age." You have the traditional Michigan toughness being coached by a guy who personifies it, but with the most expensive and talented young quarterback the school has ever seen. It might be a bumpy start, but the ceiling is as high as the stadium lights.
Keep an eye on the injury reports during spring ball. With the depth being as thin as it is at certain spots—especially interior DL and WR—one or two bad breaks could change the entire outlook of the Big Ten race. For now, the roster looks like a puzzle that’s finally starting to show the full picture.