Michigan football tight end Zack Marshall took to social media to apologize for "inappropriate comments" he appeared to make regarding the Wolverines and offensive coordinator Jason Beck shortly after U-M's 20-14 loss to Minnesota.
The alleged comments, made in a group chat, were leaked on Monday, Oct. 5, and have since made the rounds on social media. Online indications were that Marshall was the one who sent the texts and his apology has seemingly confirmed as much.
"Last weekend, in the hours after we lost, I made some inappropriate comments that I regret," Marshall posted on X. "This game is won and lost as a team, and I pointed fingers instead of taking accountability. I let my frustrations speak for me in an emotional moment.
"I apologize
to my teammates and coaches for the unnecessary drama this has caused. I will always be proud to represent Michigan and will continue to give everything I have for this program. I love Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan and Team 147."
Marshall, who had 16 catches for 199 yards and one touchdown last season, has not recorded a single reception in 2026. He dropped a pass against the Gophers in the fourth quarter of U-M's loss in Minneapolis.
The junior, who has often been one of the more vocal voices on the team and was the one who ran out of the locker room and led the break down as the tight ends took the field against Minnesota, left comments about Beck where he appeared to question his scheme.
In the texts Marshall appeared to send, he said Beck met with Freddie Whittingham's group and allegedly told them "none of us are valuable to this offense." He later said the offense "sucks" citing if the group is blitzed "we have no answers."
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound product out of Carlsbad, California − who earlier this offseason praised Beck as someone who can use the tight ends in a different way than previously before − has seemingly changed his tune.
"We have an extra OL on the field every play and run different versions of power read every play 🤡," Marshall appeared to write, including a clown emoji. wrote. "Also Beck tells Bryce [Underwood] where to go on every play and it gets strapped. Bryce is a good qb, Beck is a problem."
Marshall ended the message by saying "I never said this and this better not ever leave this group chat."
According to Sports Info Solutions, Michigan has run 52 drop backs with six offensive linemen on the field. The next closest team on such plays is Iowa State, which has run 13. The tight end group as a whole has made little impact as Hogan Hansen, Jalen Hoffman and Eli Owens have combined for nine catches for 65 yards through five weeks.
The lack of tight end production is one of many issues of an offense that appears broken. The Wolverines (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) are attempting to address their plethora of problems during the bye week before they host Penn State (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday, Oct. 17 (3:30 p.m., TV network TBD).
“Self-analysis: what do we do best?” coach Kyle Whittingham told Jon Jansen on "Inside Michigan Football" of what needs to happen next. “Through five games, what’s been our strength? Where do we need to gravitate? What do we need to gravitate towards schematically? Personnel-wise, you know, who have been our best players through those five games? And are we getting those best players on the field often enough and enough reps?”
[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Hail Yes!" your go-to Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live on YouTube . ]
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan TE Zack Marshall apologizes for comments in leaked messages
