Michigan football wrapped up spring ball with the Spring Game on April 18, and there were certainly some highs and lows. The Maize Team beat the Blue Team, 7-6, and while the low scoring affair didn’t exactly have a lot of highlights, there’s plenty good to take away from the team’s performance. And if you don’t think that’s true, there’s at least plenty of time for improvement before the start of the season.
Here are three reasons for optimism following spring ball.
It’s good to have a solid backup quarterback
Even going back to Michigan’s national
championship season in 2023, the Wolverines haven’t exactly had stellar talent at the backup quarterback position. In 2024, the Wolverines cycled through multiple quarterbacks and couldn’t cut down on the turnover issues. In 2025, the lack of a backup clearly factored into Michigan’s willingness to utilize Bryce Underwood on the ground. That might not be the case this fall.
It’s clear Kyle Whittingham thinks highly of true freshman Tommy Carr. It could make it easier to run Underwood knowing they’ve got a solid option in Carr. Unlike past games that have relied on a quarterback making a few big plays, Carr looked like he was capable of keeping drives alive. If Michigan’s going to have success this season, you want to know it has the depth to carry them through a difficult schedule, and you need that depth at every position, including quarterback.
Michigan’s defensive line looked strong, even without top talent
The defensive front looked good, even with All-American edge rusher John Henry Daley out. We’ve been hearing he’s ahead of schedule after missing out on playing time because of an Achilles injury at the end of last season. He has the potential to be one of the best players on the defense as long as his injury doesn’t hold him back.
Along with that, incoming freshman Carter Meadows will arrive this summer, and there’s a lot of hope for him as well. The five-star recruit has the potential to make an instant impact, and while he might need to add some weight, he’s got all the talent in the world. He’ll be a player that can add some critical depth to the defensive end position and help Michigan’s defense get opposing offenses off the field.
Michigan’s run game can carry the offense
Running backs Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter will be tough for any opposing defense to handle. Hiter had 10 carries for 44 yards, while Marshall had five carries for 21 yards. While Hiter will be an immediate impact player as a freshman, Marshall looks like he’s picking up where he left off in 2025. He’s carried this team on his back before, and he seems capable of doing that again if need be.
Having a strong run game will hopefully take some pressure off Underwood and allow him to make some big passing plays without having to throw into tight coverage. As long as Michigan can get enough offense going on the ground, Underwood should be able to help balance out the team’s ability to move the ball. While he didn’t necessarily shine in the spring game, it’s tough to judge someone on a game that just doesn’t simulate reality all that much.
