With a brand new coaching staff, strength and conditioning staff and players galore, the Michigan Wolverines will look quite a bit different in a few weeks. Despite the influx of new talent, the importance of player development is at an all-time high. In order for the Wolverines to succeed, they cannot rely solely on new players stepping up. The guys already inside the building need to progress and develop.
With Bryce Underwood obviously being the most pivotal, who is the next most important Wolverine
to develop heading into the 2026 season?
On the defensive side of the ball, there are a few intriguing options. Mason Curtis showed flashes in 2025 but left a lot to be desired when it came to consistency. If he can turn into a force to be reckoned with, his size and speed allow defensive coordinator Jay Hill to do quite a bit of different things with the defensive scheme.
Both cornerbacks are also options here. While Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry both had solid seasons last year, they are both being expected to leap into stardom this fall. Having multiple lock-down corners is paramount for a program whose main rival is WRU.
At linebacker, Michigan has a lot of bodies, but not a lot of proven production. Someone will need to step up, whether that be Troy Bowles, Nate Staehling, Chase Taylor, Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng or someone else. It’s hard to identify just one name here, but the entire group needs to develop in order to avoid being a weak link.
The defensive line is full of veterans that are being counted on to produce. I’m looking specifically at Enow Etta as a player who could prove to incredibly useful if he has a breakthrough this season. Michigan’s depth at defensive tackle isn’t great, so Trey Pierce and Etta will be called upon to stay on the field early and often.
Offensively, Jordan Marshall and Andrew Marsh are already looked at as relatively sure things, though I wouldn’t complain if one or both developed into All-American caliber players in 2026. The tight end position could certainly use someone to progress into a star. Zack Marshall, Deakon Tonielli and Hogan Hansen could all prove useful to Underwood as a safety blanket.
With all that said, I saved my personal choice for last. The offensive line has talent galore on it, but the best way for Michigan to succeed is to keep Underwood upright and let Marshall and Savion Hiter have gaping holes to run through. Jake Guarnera and Andrew Sprague are sure starters, but if the Wolverines could get a star out of Blake Frazier, Andrew Babalola or Nathan Efobi, they could be on to something. My personal choice is Blake Frazier, as he flashed the most potential when thrust into early playing time last season. If Frazier can pop in 2026, the offensive line could potentially be one of the best in the country.
Which non-Underwood player do you think is the most important to develop between now and the start of the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
