The start of the 2026 college football season is just a few months away, which means we’re starting to see the usual top lists on every sports website. The one below caught my eye recently, as FOX’s Michael Cohen posted his Top 10 breakout candidates ahead of the 2026 season. Among those included is Michigan sophomore wide receiver Andrew Marsh.
It’s always great to see a Michigan player on one of these lists, but here’s my question — didn’t Marsh already have his breakout season? He ended the season with 45 catches, 651 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 16 kick returns for 378 yards, which included his massive performance against Texas in the bowl game.
Since Kerry Coombs is sticking around and Marsh could continue to build on that momentum in 2026. #thankgodforhashtags #CoombswillhelpthisteamIbelieve
Marsh looked like one of the best players on offense in 2025, and when the Wolverines needed him to start putting it all together, he did that. Marsh set freshman records with 12 catches and 189 yards when he started vs Northwestern. Ahead of that, he had eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown when the Wolverines went on the road to play USC.
Yes, Marsh only had the two 100+ yard games last year, but Michigan’s offense was not always firing on all cylinders. Cohen acknowledged as much in his article, as he pointed out that despite Michigan’s 107th-ranked offense, Marsh finished second in receiving yards among true freshmen. For Cohen, it sounds like a breakout campaign might include Marsh tallying 1,000 yards in a single season.
While Marsh wasn’t perfect, I’d argue the fact that all eyes are on him means he’s already had his breakout season. His two 100+ yard games were actually the first for a Michigan freshman since Roy Roundtree in 2009. Now it’s up to him and Bryce Underwood to build on that momentum in 2026.
While Marsh can add to his stats in 2026, he’s still working in an offense that’s going to heavily feature the run. Marsh isn’t just going to be competing against a growing receiver room, he’ll be working in an offense that’s going to feature a run-first mentality. We’ll see how much he’s able to take a step forward when the Wolverines finally suit up this fall.
What are your thoughts? Did Marsh already breakout? Is he still searching for that breakout season? We want to hear from you! Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
