The Michigan Wolverines still do not have a head coach, but the current roster is under a ticking clock to decide if they will stay in Ann Arbor next season or hit the transfer portal. After Michigan fired
Sherrone Moore last week, players will be able to enter the portal for a 15-day period once the Wolverines hire a new head coach. The main transfer portal window is now a single period from Jan. 2-16, so the players have roughly three weeks to decide what they want to do.
It is tough for anyone to decide to leave a program, and it is even harder to do it under conditions they cannot control. But this is the reality for the Wolverines, and everyone is being poached by programs across the country. While it would be amazing if Michigan could retain as many players as possible, that is most likely not a reality. However, there are a few names that are must-haves under any new coach.
Here are five players Michigan cannot afford to lose this offseason.
Bryce Underwood
This should be a no-brainer. Michigan only saw a small sample size from its star quarterback, and while it wasn’t perfect the entire year, he showed more than enough talent to prove he has the potential to be great.
Underwood threw for 2,229 yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions with a QBR of 73.4. While these numbers were not enough to get the Wolverines into the College Football Playoff, he showed significant improvement throughout the season in his progressions, his accuracy and his overall leadership.
A fresh start with a new head coach/quarterbacks coach combo would be helpful for Michigan in its efforts to retain Underwood and keep him happy over the long term. And it could be the deciding factor in the immediate future of the program.
Jordan Marshall
There should also be no question Michigan needs to do all it can to keep Marshall. The former Mr. Ohio Football was instrumental when Justice Haynes went down with a season-ending knee injury. He put up 932 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging more than six yards per carry after Haynes’ injury.
There is still uncertainty around Haynes’ future, but no matter if Haynes stays or goes, Marshall needs to be in Michigan’s future plans.
Andrew Marsh
There was no one who had a more promising year than Marsh. With at least two more years in college, Marsh needs to be wearing Maize and Blue to give the Wolverines a productive passing attack.
The On3 College Football Freshman All-American led the Wolverines in receiving, accumulating 641 yards on 42 catches to go along with three touchdowns. It has been a number of years since Michigan has seen a breakout wide receiver, but the sky could be the limit for Marsh and Underwood if both decide to stay.
Mason Curtis
Part of what made Wink Martindale’s defense successful at many points in the season is the amount of players he utilized throughout a game. It was honestly hard for the defenders to stand out, but when they did, it was known.
A fast riser in Michigan’s defense that cannot be allowed to go elsewhere has to be Curtis. While he played with a number of veterans, the sophomore from Nashville kept finding ways to make an impact. He shared Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performances at Northwestern and Maryland, and he was named the team’s Rookie of the Year on Defense in 2024.
What makes him special is he is always in the right position and his hits are felt. If Michigan wants continuity in its secondary, Curtis needs to be in the equation.
Cole Sullivan
Like Curtis, Sullivan was in a crowded veteran room in 2025 with Ernest Hausmann, Jimmy Rolder and Jaishawn Barham. However, Sullivan made the most of his opportunities when given them.
After being a primary special teams player in 2024, Sullivan shared Defensive Player of the Week honors in three separate weeks in 2025, making 37 tackles, securing two sacks, three interceptions and three pass deflections. With Hausmann out the last couple games of the season, Sullivan stepped in and made four tackles in his first career start at Maryland, while making one tackle for loss and six total tackles vs Ohio State.
No matter who the head coach or coordinators are, he is a great piece to lead the Wolverines’ defense in the future.
