We started this odyssey to boldly chart out the map of the Michigan football team’s roster in 2026 many moons ago, and now we’re almost at its end. And what an adventure it’s been. I’m going to miss it. Truly.
But we have two instalments left before we say our goodbyes. So let’s move onto our breakdown of the Wolverines’ safeties.
The starters: Rod Moore and Chris Bracy
If anyone on this roster is looking for redemption, it’s Moore. A fan favorite and one of the key defensive contributors to the Wolverines’ national championship, Moore has
cruelly been denied his trajectory by an ACL tear he suffered in the spring of 2024, missing all of the subsequent season and most of 2025. Now, he is ready to take his place at free safety as a leader of this defense.
Lining up opposite him is yet another member of Michigan’s substantial transfer class. Bracy spent two years at UAB before playing at Memphis last season, where he appeared in all 13 games and demonstrated a blend of tackling skill, ball-hawking and versatility.
The rotation: Jordan Young and Mason Curtis
In addition to a very solid pair of starters, the Wolverines round out their rotation with two talented but experienced pieces. Curtis was the Wolverines’ Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and earned two Defensive Player of the Week nods in 2025, leaving him with one of the better resumes for any of Michigan’s rotational pieces across the roster. Young played 10 games as a true freshman in 2025 and displayed promise — he earned the Defensive Player of the Week vs Northwestern. Both have shown plenty of potential and can easily make it an open competition for the starting spots.
Other notables
Jacob Oden saw decent levels of involvement as a sophomore in 2025 by playing in 10 games. True freshman Jordan Deck was a four-star recruit, as was sophomore Kainoa Winston, so it’ll be interesting to see if either of those two can see the field in 2026.
Verdict
I think this room is another real area of strength for the Wolverines. When all four of your top players on the depth chart are capable of being a starter, and there’s also the intangible of leadership fromof Moore, it’s hard to go wrong with any aspect of this unit.
GRADE: A
