The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540586
NOVEMBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 33 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL Five Best Players 1. Senior edge Derrick Moore: The team captain has compiled 9 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 10 pressures and 1 forced fumble over the last three games. A Baltimore native, Moore was the best defender on the field in the 24-7 triumph over Washington Oct. 18, posting 3 tackles, 2 sacks and 4 pressures. On a fourth down, Moore owned the tight end that was blocking him, got to quarter- back Demond Williams Jr. and forced a fumble; it was recovered by the Huskies but didn't matter because it was a turnover on downs, and the Wolverines cashed in with a field goal to make it a three- score game in the fourth quarter. 2. Junior running back Justice Haynes: The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Alpharetta, Ga., native leads the Big Ten with 117.5 rushing yards per game, and is second with 705 total rushing yards despite missing the last six-plus quarters with an injury to his abdominal area. Haynes helped carry the Michigan offense with 19 attempts for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 24-10 win over Wisconsin Oct. 4. He was well on his way to extending his streak of 100-plus-yard rushing games before he went down with the injury in the second quarter of the 31-13 loss at Southern California Oct. 11. 3. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood: He's growing by the week, and played his best game in the victory over Washington in which the 6-foot-4, 228-pounder completed 21 of his 27 passes (77.8 percent) for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns, while seeing at least 3 of his passes get dropped. Underwood had a career-high 270 passing yards in the 24-7 win over Wisconsin, connecting on 19 of his 28 throws with 1 touchdown. He turned the ball over just once over the last three contests, throwing an ill-advised interception against USC. 4. Freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh: The 6-foot, 190-pound Katy, Texas, native has been a revelation the last three contests, notching his first, second and third career starts against Wisconsin, USC and Washington, and thriving in all three. Marsh has combined to make 17 catches for 267 yards and 2 touchdowns during that stretch, leading all Wolverine pass-catchers. He was one of the few bright spots in the USC loss, hauling in 8 grabs for 138 yards with a 69-yard touchdown, and had a 22-yard touchdown the following week versus Washington, going 22 yards on a screen play up the middle. 5. Sophomore running back Jordan Marshall: The Cincinnati na- tive runs hard, no matter what, and he did so over and over in the 24-7 win over Washington Oct. 18, much to the delight of the home fans on the corner of Stadium and Main. The 5-foot-11, 216-pounder carried 25 times for 133 yards and a touchdown in the victory, rack- ing up 3.7 yards after contact per rush and forcing 6 missed tackles. Marshall also hauled in 3 catches for 20 yards. He was special in replacement of Haynes, who was out with an injury. Marshall has to be one of the best backup running backs in the nation. He also stepped in valiantly the prior week at USC, at- tempting 14 rushes for 58 yards with 1 catch for 16 yards. He had 9 carries for 44 yards versus Wisconsin. Key Moment It was a defensive struggle between the Wolverines and the Hus- kies, with the score 7-7 late in the third quarter, before Michigan's surge began. Sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan played his zone perfectly, picking off a slant pass from quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Michigan took over at the Huskies' 14-yard line, and sophomore running back Jordan Marshall darted to the end zone on the first play of the ensuing possession. The Wolverines never gave up that lead, scoring 17 unanswered points to win going away. Best Highlight It's hard not to go with the one-handed catch by freshman wide receiver Andrew Marsh against Washington, but this nod goes to the interception by graduate safety Rod Moore in his first game back at The Big House. A single-high safety, Moore ranged over to his left on a deep pass down the sideline and picked it off — classic Rod. He was mobbed by his teammates as he put on the "Turnover Buffs" sunglasses in the sideline celebration. Bold Prediction Michigan will enter the Nov. 29 game with Ohio State 9-2, mean- ing a win likely would place the Wolverines into the College Football Playoff field. With only one Big Ten loss at that point, beating the Buckeyes could also mean they would end up in the conference title game in Indianapolis. Michigan will be favored heavily in each of its next four games — at MSU, vs. Purdue, at Northwestern, at Mary- land — and get the job done after stumbling on the road earlier in the season (Oklahoma, USC). — Clayton Sayfie Superlatives For Michigan's Three Games From Oct. 4 To Oct. 18 Senior edge Derrick Moore compiled 9 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 10 pressures and 1 forced fumble over U-M's last three games. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL