While Michigan Football does not boast a Heisman Trophy favorite or an offensive line of the Joe Moore Award-winning era’s caliber, this is still a talented roster; one that could see individuals garner national recognition by season’s end.
Here is who could take home some hardware.
DE John Henry Daley- Ted Hendricks Award
Despite rupturing his Achilles in November of 2025, Daley is “completely healthy right now,” according to head coach Kyle Whittingham, via Alejandro Zúñiga of The Michigan Insider.
After playing in only 10 games and recording
one sack over his first two collegiate seasons, Daley exploded for Utah last fall, notching 11.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 48 combined tackles.
He is PFF’s “highest-graded returning edge defender” and fifth on their NFL Draft board among defensive ends. Should he combine that strong run game presence and continue to excel in the pass rushing department, we could very well see All-Big Ten and/or All-American nods and perhaps the Ted Hendricks Award for top defensive end/pass rusher honors.
Much of this depends on Daley’s return to the field, but that year three ascent was real, and another stretch with Wittingham should only help his development.
WR Andrew Marsh- Fred Biletnikoff Award
This may seem like a foreign concept for a Michigan program that has leaned so heavily on the run game in recent years, but Marsh is that good. As a freshman, he hauled in 45 receptions for 651 yards and four touchdowns, and added a score on the ground.
Those 651 yards accounted for over a quarter of QB Bryce Underwood’s passing, and Marsh recorded only one catch through the first month of the season. An entire campaign as WR1 and the hopeful ascension of Underwood with new offensive coordinator Jason Beck should make Marsh an even more tantalizing asset.
The Wolverines are not exactly loaded with pass catchers, either. Sophomore transfer JJ Buchanan and redshirt freshman transfer Jaime Ffrench could be nice pieces, and tight ends like Zack Marshall and Hogan Hansen, as well as what should be a strong running game (more on that later), will hurt Marsh’s odds of claiming the Biletnikoff.
But, even with the likes of Jeremiah Smith, Malachi Toney and Cam Coleman all back in school, Marsh should command an absurd target share in his second season.
CB Jyaire Hill- Jim Thorpe Award
There are a couple of options in this talented Michigan secondary; Utes transfer Smith Snowden should do well at nickel back, Zeke Berry is another solid cornerback and super senior Rod Moore has starred, though health is a serious concern for the latter.
Of course, there is stout competition across the nation, led by Notre Dame’s lead CB Leonard Moore. However, there is also plenty of hype surrounding Hill, who recorded 36 tackles — three for loss — an interception, a sack, five pass deflections and was ranked seventh on PFF’s list of top returning corners for the 2026 season.
Hill was also voted as the team’s defensive skill position player of the year by his teammates and, particularly with Moore’s health a worry, could further emerge as the leader on the back end.
Honorable Mentions
RB Jordan Marshall/RB Savion Hiter- Doak Walker Award
Marshall was terrific as the Wolverines’ lead back after Justice Haynes went down, featuring four straight 100+ rushing totals late in the calendar, and should earn plenty of carries as one of the top players on this offense.
Hiter, the five-star freshman, is oozing with skill and could burst onto the scene, too. However, considering Michigan’s penchant for incorporating an RB1/RB2, or even RB1A, RB1B system, it feels likely to carry into the Whittingham era, likely nipping at each other’s totals for the betterment of the team.
Is there anyone else on this roster you could see entering the national awards conversation? Let us know in the comments.
