The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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DECEMBER 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 25 "That's the best part about our room, we have so many guys that you know can play football," Klein said in mid-No- vember. "Against Washington, you saw Deakon Tonielli and Zack Marshall take over the show. I think that's a huge shout out to [tight ends] Coach [Steve] Casula getting everybody ready to play." And especially Marshall, whose contri- butions were in doubt prior to the season. Although he'd shown some potential, he still had work to do blocking to earn his way on to the field, and he hadn't caught a pass in his first two years. After a Nov. 15 game with Northwest- ern, though, Marshall was the Wolver- ines' second-leading receiver at tight end with 165 yards, only 7 behind Klein. Han- sen, expected to have a breakout season, has been limited with various injuries all year, forcing others to step up. "That room is deep," Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said after the ear- lier win over the Huskies. "I think Coach Casula does a really good job coaching those guys, and all those guys have ability. You saw that today in the run and pass game. "We think really highly of Marshall and really highly of [junior] Deakon Tonielli. We always talk about next man up, and in that room, the next guy has got to go. It doesn't really matter who it is, what number it is — you've got to go." The decision to incorporate the tight ends was made that week regardless of who was available, he added, given the trust they had in Marshall and the others. That was the case in a Nov. 1 game with Purdue, too, another in which Hansen was ruled out and Klein left after getting banged up. On the table that game — a trick play slated for Klein, a variation of a flea flicker designed to get the tight end behind the defense. It worked like a charm … only it wasn't Klein on the receiving end, but Marshall for one of the big plays in a 21-16 win. The junior hauled in 3 catches for 58 yards, in- cluding a 37-yarder on the unique play in which he found himself wide open down the right sideline. "He's meant a lot, because he's one of those guys who just does everything right," Moore said the Monday after the win over Northwestern that improved his team to 8-2. "The big pass against Pur- due, the trick play, he'd never run that in practice. It was the first time with him running it. "Marlin [Klein] goes down, he goes in, knows exactly what to do, exactly how to do it, and that's just the type of guy he is. You can trust him. He's going to work his tail off and go make plays." READY FOR MORE The Washington game was his coming out party, and not many in the building would have foreseen it given Marshall's schedule for the week. As demanding as football is, it's even harder for those who take their studies as seriously as he does. Marshall came to Michigan not just for the high-level football, but also for the academics. He was admitted to the Ross School of Business, one of the elite busi- ness schools in the country, and he had a tough week while preparing for the Hus- kies, too. "I was way behind on my film because I had two midterms I had to study for, trying to do the business school thing," Marshall admitted. "It's a little tough to be doing [Ross] and football, but we make it work. … "You prepare every game like you're going to be the starter. So, one goes down, two goes down … you just prepare. That's what you do." Among his 5 catches against Washing- ton was his first career touchdown early in the fourth quarter, a score that gave the Wolverines some breathing room in a must-have game. With Michigan up 14-7 and driving, Marshall faked a post route before heading to the corner of the end zone, freeing himself from his defender. Freshman quarterback Bryce Under- wood, rolling to his right, would have had a hard time missing him — that's how open he was. "A lot of grass," Marshall said with a smile when asked what he saw on the play. "It was pretty fun. "You make it look like a crack [block], and then you go take a corner out of it. So, they attached the [defensive] back, I got open … that's how you draw it up." They'd win 24-7, and Marshall was one of the stars of the game. He also converted a third down by taking a pass short of the sticks and running for a first down past midfield in the first quarter, adding a 19-yarder later in the stanza to set up the Wolverines' first score. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey planned to incorporate the tight ends more against the Huskies, confident he could get some matchups he liked. They play with two tight ends as much as any- body, he said, trying to get their best play- ers in position for what they do the best. For Marshall, that's catching the ball and running with it. "You know exactly what you're going to get from Zack Marshall, and it's a blend of talent and ability with really good un- derstanding, like football IQ and plays with fundamen- tals," Casula said two days after the win. "He prac- tices as hard as anybody in the program. … None of us were surprised by what Zack Marshall did." The message in Schembechler Hall is always the same, Marshall said, no matter the position, no matter the opponent — "We're going to outwork you." It doesn't always end in victory or in things going the way you want, but when opportunity arises, each guy will be prepared. He com- pared it to taking a photo and always try- ing to get "back to that really nice, dialed- in look" that leads to winning. Sometimes, too, there are bumps in the road. He caught only 2 passes for 6 yards in the win over Northwestern be- fore taking a shot and needing medical attention, including a short reception for a first down. He was back at it the next day, however, and one of the first in the building Monday morning in preparation for Maryland. "Yeah, he's doing good," Moore said with a grin. "I actually saw him here this morning. He was here bright and early. I got here and he was just pulling up, so it was good to see. "He's getting treatment, but he's in good shape. It looks like he'll be fine for the week." And ready to contribute in any way possible when his number is called. ❏ ❱ Marshall "You prepare every game like you're going to be the starter. So, one goes down, two goes down … you just prepare. That's what you do."