For the first time, Michigan running back Jordan Marshall isn’t the breakout option waiting behind an established starter. He is now Michigan’s presumed RB1, and despite only starting a handful of games up to this point in his college career, it’s the most obvious of any of the early depth chart fill-ins.
Marshall emerged as the Wolverines’ most consistent offensive weapon during a turbulent 2025 season, finishing with 932 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 150 carries despite playing through — and at
times being limited by — a shoulder injury late in the year.
What made Marshall’s season even more impressive was how seamlessly Michigan kept moving when the backfield was turned upside down. When Justice Haynes suffered a season-ending injury in late October, there was no drop-off in Michigan’s run game. Marshall seamlessly stepped into the starting role and kept the offense humming, averaging 7.5 yards per carry over the remainder of the season. Over the team’s most critical stretch of Big Ten play, Marshall delivered four straight 100-yard performances and established himself as a game-breaker that defenses had to game-plan around.
Now, heading into the first full offseason under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, that momentum becomes the foundation of Michigan’s 2026 rushing attack. Marshall’s return gives the Wolverines something they badly needed after months of roster and staff churn: certainty at a premium position.
And that certainty matters even more because of what Michigan expects its offense to be. Spoiler alert: the Wolverines aren’t moving away from a run-first identity. Instead, let’s say they’re refining it. With Bryce Underwood returning, and a staff that will look to incorporate the quarterback into the run game, Marshall becomes the centerpiece of a multi-layered rushing attack rather than simply its most reliable option.
The difference heading into next season is role clarity. Last year, Marshall and Haynes formed a powerful tandem. This year, Marshall is likely the 1A to any tandem that starts the season. Five-star freshman Savion Hiter is expected to make some noise, and Bryson Kuzdzal returns after a brief stint in the transfer portal. Michigan even landed a transfer commitment from Taylor Tatum out of Oklahoma, and although he is expected to begin the spring at safety, he could also factor into the running back room if things don’t go well in the secondary.
But make no mistake, come Sept. 5 when the Wolverines take on Western Michigan to begin the season, Marshall will be the one forcing other running backs to wait their turn to see the field.
