First Scrimmage of the Year: Underclassmen Shining as Michigan’s Offense Comes Together
Michigan held its first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday, and from everything coming out of Ann Arbor, the Wolverines are beginning to put the pieces together — even with a few questions still left to answer.
One of the more encouraging developments has been the wide receiver room.
Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan continue to make their presence felt, while Channing Goodwin has started to emerge as a legitimate option for the WR3 role. Travis Johnson and Salesi Moa have also received reps at receiver, and while it remains unclear whether either will carve out a significant role there, the possibility is certainly worth watching as camp continues.
At running back, not much has changed at the top.
Jordan Marshall continues to receive RB1 reps, but Savion Hiter does not appear to be far behind. At this point, I view the backfield as more of a 1A and 1B situation than a traditional starter-and-backup setup.
Hiter broke off multiple explosive runs during Saturday’s scrimmage, including one for a touchdown. His development continues to be one of the biggest stories of camp. The young running back is progressing at an extremely high rate, and I believe there is a real possibility he could eventually take over as the starter by the end of October.
The quarterback room is far less mysterious at the top. We already know Bryce Underwood is QB1.
His scrimmage performance apparently left some things to be desired, but there is also important context. Going against a Jay Hill defense every day in practice is going to challenge any quarterback, especially one still developing.
Brandon Fowler-Nicosi has also provided Underwood with competition and pressure in practice — something Bryce did not consistently have last season with Mikey Keene dealing with injuries for much of the year.
Tommy Carr is another name worth watching. He has practiced well throughout camp, continues to battle for the QB2 job and has shown significant improvement since spring practice.
Offensive Line Still Taking Shape
Michigan’s offensive line remains one of the more interesting position groups — not necessarily because of questions about talent, but because of where everyone ultimately lines up.
Frazier, Sprague, Efobi, Babalola and Gureana appear to be the leading candidates to make up Michigan’s starting five. Norton and Link, however, remain firmly in the conversation, meaning nothing should be considered finalized until camp concludes.
The talent is there.
Whatever combination Coach Harding ultimately chooses, this group has the experience and ability to become one of the strongest offensive lines in the country — and potentially the best in the Big Ten.
Michigan’s Defense Starting to Sharpen
Defensively, the Wolverines appear to be finding their identity quickly.
This unit has the potential to keep Michigan in games throughout the season, particularly if the offense needs time to fully develop.
Dominic Nichols and Enow Etta have both been highlighted as standout performers during camp. Former five-star Shamari Earls has also generated plenty of attention, with Jyaire Hill saying Earls has been playing like a starter.
North Dakota State transfer Nathaniel Staehling has emerged as another name to watch in the linebacker room, joining Bowles and Boateng among the players making an impression.
Michigan’s linebacking corps is young, but the talent is undeniable.
Adding Alex Whittingham to the staff after his time with the Kansas City Chiefs could prove especially valuable for such a young position group. His experience and coaching should only accelerate the development of Michigan’s linebackers as the season approaches.
Secondary Could Be a Major Strength
The secondary, meanwhile, may be one of the strengths of the entire roster.
Michigan recorded two interceptions during Saturday’s scrimmage, and the defensive backs have reportedly been flying around the field throughout camp.
Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, Elijah Snowden, Tevis Metcalf? Bracy and Rod Moore headline a group that has the potential to be Michigan’s best secondary since the 2023 national championship season. Shamari Earls should also factor heavily into the rotation.
The deeper this room becomes, the more dangerous Michigan’s defense can be.
Jay Hill loves to rotate defenders, disguise coverages and keep opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. That becomes even more valuable when you consider how successful his defenses have been at forcing turnovers over the past two seasons.
If Michigan can consistently generate pressure up front while allowing this secondary to play aggressively behind it, the Wolverines could once again have one of the most disruptive defenses in college football.
Special Teams
There has not been nearly as much to report from special teams, but that may not necessarily be a bad thing.
Coach Coombs should have this group prepared when the season begins.
After some frustrating moments last season — including negative punts and inconsistencies in the kicking game — Michigan will be looking for a much steadier performance from its special teams units this fall.
This is one area where the Wolverines should be capable of remaining strong and dependable.
Another Big Week Ahead
Michigan now enters another full week of padded practices, with another scrimmage expected Saturday.
That should give the coaching staff another opportunity to evaluate the position battles, continue developing the younger players and begin getting a clearer picture of what this team will look like when the season kicks off.
We are getting closer.
I’ll leave you with one comment from Jyaire Hill about Bryce Underwood that should probably get Michigan fans excited.
“He looks more comfortable and he is moving like a demon.”
If that doesn’t get you ready for Michigan football, I’m not sure what will.
Go Blue.