A majority of the players the Michigan Wolverines are bringing in from the transfer portal are now officially in Ann Arbor. We’re now several days past the portal closing, and most college rosters are in place (or close to it) at this point. That means that barring some late additions, the Wolverines’ class has come to a close and we can start to analyze who plugs in where on the roster.
Here are three guys who will likely be starters over some returning players in 2026.
Edge John Henry Daley > Dom Nichols
There is no way John Henry
Daley is not a starter for Michigan, if healthy. He’s easily the most important player Kyle Whittingham brought from Utah to Ann Arbor. Daley’s 11.5 sacks outperformed anyone at Michigan in 2025. As Derrick Moore, TJ Guy and Jaishawn Barham moved on, his expertise was needed.
Whittingham did a great job at retaining depth — Dom Nichols, Cam Brandt and Nate Marshall are the three guys impacted the most by Daley’s arrival. But all three will likely see playing time, and one of them will start on the opposite side.
If I had to put money on it today, Nichols is the one who takes the biggest blow here. Brandt played nearly double the snaps Nichols did this past year, and Marshall was incredibly limited as a true freshman. I could see a bit of a slide in the depth chart for Nichols with Daley’s addition.
WR/TE JJ Buchanan > Channing Goodwin/Hogan Hansen
Michigan needed to add pass-catchers in the portal with Donaven McCulley on his way to the NFL, along with other departures in Fred Moore, Semaj Morgan, Peyton O’Leary and Anthony Simpson. Whittingham earned another splash signing from JJ Buchanan, who lined up both as a tight end and a receiver last year at Utah.
Depending on how Buchanan utilized in Ann Arbor, he poses an interesting threat to a few players on the roster. One, I think his abilities mean that tight ends are going to be in line more often in 2026 while Buchanan lines up in the slot. Then, he’ll be on the outside for obvious passing downs because of his 6-foot-4 frame. That’d likely mean less pass-catching chances for tight ends like Hogan Hansen, and blocking may even take priority over a receiving threat at the position.
With Buchanan lining up in the slot, that would spell fewer opportunities for a guy like Channing Goodwin. He played 312 snaps in the regular season for Michigan last year, and I suspect that number to decrease next season.
WR Jaime Ffrench > Channing Goodwin/Jamar Browder
Doubling down, Jaime Ffrench will put Goodwin’s and Jamar Browder’s snaps in jeopardy. Ffrench was a fringe five-star in the 2025 recruiting class, and although he didn’t see much playing time at Texas last season, I think he could have a larger impact next year for the Wolverines.
In high school, Ffrench lined up both inside and out and was praised for winning 50-50 balls. That makes me question the fit for Browder as an X-receiver, too. Utah’s leading wide receivers last season were Ryan Davis (5-foot-11) and Larry Simmons (6-foot-1). The Utes also turned to Buchanan and tight end Dallen Bentley (both 6-foot-4), which Michigan can mimic with Buchanan and Hansen (6-foot-6).
Browder’s size may not be a fit for the new-look Michigan offense, and I imagine both Ffrench and Buchanan’s arrivals will severely dampen the chances the existing Wolverines’ receiving room has.
HM: CB Smith Snowden
Snowden is a starter, but because of all of the changes in the secondary, it’s safe to wonder where he fits in and who he might start over. I suspect Snowden, Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill will be the three starting corners, but either Snowden or Berry will be the nickel with the other being bumped to the outside. Perhaps Shamari Earls or Jo’Ziah Edmond can push Hill, but I don’t suspect Snowden is really stealing a starting-caliber role, more so taking over for TJ Metcalf, who left in the portal.
