Maybe the most intriguing player on the Michigan Wolverines’ roster heading into the fall is junior safety Mason Curtis. That’s because he’s an experienced player — 20 game appearances on defense with three starts — but head coach Kyle Whittingham said a few weeks back he wasn’t confident in the depth in the secondary. That’s surprising because of Rod Moore, Zeke Berry, Smith Snowden, Jyaire Hill, Chris Bracy and others’ experience in what was once considered a loaded position group.
The story so far
Curtis is an
incredibly unique player. In high school, he was an edge rusher, recruited as a linebacker, but eventually settled in at safety. As a four-star recruit, the Michigan staff knew they were getting a total-package athlete.
In Ann Arbor at the time, there was a need at the safety position. Curtis filled it, appearing in five games during the 2024 season, including several down the stretch. He made eight tackles with a tackle for loss and an interception while burning his redshirt. That earned him the team’s Rookie of the Year award on defense.
As a sophomore in 2025, Curtis established a much more demonstrative role, making three starts in the secondary and appearing in 11 games. Those totals shot up to 34 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and an interception. He was in line for a starting role in 2026 had Rod Moore not returned for another season.
Outlook for 2026
It’s hard to tell where the coaching staff ranks Curtis heading into the fall. There was an idea among fans he could swap back to linebacker because of his positional flexibility. But then safeties coach Tyler Stockton said in June that Curtis has “found a home” at safety on the In The Trenches Podcast.
From a quote like that to Whittingham saying in July on The Rich Eisen Show that the team was “a little thin in the secondary,” it’s hard to get a gauge on where Curtis stands. Many expect Moore and Memphis transfer Chris Bracy to be the starters heading into the season. Curtis is envisioned to be that third option, with sophomore Jordan Young not far behind.
At the same time, Stockton said Curtis was going to have “a big year for us” and complimented him for his energy and love for football. Putting the puzzle pieces together on where things stand for the room, the battle between Bracy, Curtis and Young might be tight. All three will likely see significant playing time this season, and if Moore’s injury status remains up in the air, two of those three could be starters. It will be a fascinating room to explore this season.
