The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1542067
30 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2026 ❱ MICHIGAN FOOTBALL sive linemen Andrew Sprague (coaches and media) and Jake Guarnera (coaches and media), graduate offensive line- man Greg Crippen (media), senior edge Jaishawn Barham (coaches), junior de- fensive back Jyaire Hill (coaches and media), junior defensive back Brandyn Hillman (coaches and media), junior defensive back TJ Metcalf (coaches), de- fensive tackle Trey Pierce (media) and kicker Dominic Zvada (coaches). Sophomore linebacker Cole Sullivan was the team's sportsmanship honoree. — Anthony Broome MICHIGAN REPLACES SPECIAL TEAMS COACH J.B. BROWN WITH VETERAN KERRY COOMBS Former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore didn't wait long to make his first staff change after the 27-9 loss to Ohio State. As many expected he would, Moore relieved special teams coach J.B. Brown of his duties after a tough year for his unit, making the announcement Dec. 3. Brown served two years in the posi- tion and was an analyst on staff for three prior to that. His contract was set to expire in January. "After thoroughly evaluating our spe- cial teams' performance throughout the season, I made the decision to make a change that was in the best interest of the program," Moore said. "I want to thank J.B. Brown for his unwavering dedication and the positive impact he's had on our players and program. We are grateful for his commitment, and I wish him nothing but success as he continues his coaching career." The highlight of Brown's career at Michigan was landing Arkansas State transfer kicker Dominic Zvada, who went 21 of 22 on field goals and earned All-Big Ten honors in 2024. But the special teams went in significant de- cline over the last two seasons — es- pecially in 2025 — compared to prior years. Michigan currently ranks 117th nationally in ESPN's special teams ef- ficiency rating and has struggled in just about every area. Three days after firing Brown, Moore hired longtime coach Kerry Coombs to replace him. Coombs has been a foot- ball coach for 42 years including the high school, collegiate and NFL ranks. He spent time with rival Ohio State in two separate stints, serving as cornerbacks coach in 2012 and adding special teams coordinator to his title for the 2013-17 campaigns. He returned as the program's defensive coordinator from 2020-21. "Coach Kerry Coombs is a proven, exceptional football coach, and we're thrilled to welcome him to our pro- gram," Moore said in a statement. "Kerry's leadership of our special teams will be invaluable. His expertise in teaching and mentoring has consis- tently shaped both outstanding athletes and remarkable young men, including some of the nation's top special teams players and cornerbacks. We're proud to have Kerry, Holly, and their fam- ily join the Michigan football family." Coombs was also named the 2017 Ri- vals.com National Recruiter of the Year and was the Big Ten's Recruiter of the Year on three occasions, proving his worth in that area, too. "Kerry's just so well respected in the field of coaching, by different coaches that I've talked to throughout the busi- ness, coaches that are here that have coached with him," Moore said. "People that I really trust in the business have spoken so highly of him in the college and NFL ranks. I brought him here on an interview, and it was just instant. You could feel the energy; you could feel the passion. You could feel he's such a great teacher, and obviously a great recruiter. "I know he recruited the state of Michigan for so long and was so com- petitive when he was at that other school. I just felt like he'd be a good fit and a good connection to what we needed, and I feel really good about it." — Chris Balas OFFENSE Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. QB 19 Bryce Underwood 6-4 228 Fr./4 12 Jake Garcia 6-3 203 Gr./1 RB 23 Jordan Marshall 5-11 216 So./4 24 Bryson Kuzdzal 5-11 210 Jr./3 WR 4 Andrew Marsh 6-0 190 Fr./4 81 Peyton O'Leary 6-3 203 Gr./1 WR 1 Donaven McCulley 6-5 215 Gr./1 10 Kendrick Bell 6-2 205 Jr./3 Slot 9 Channing Goodwin 6-1 197 So./4 or 0 Semaj Morgan 5-10 174 Jr./2 TE 17 Marlin Klein 6-6 250 Sr./2 80 Hogan Hansen 6-5 240 So./3 Full 44 Max Bredeson 6-2 250 Gr./1 42 Jalen Hoffman 6-3 245 Jr./3 LT 77 Blake Frazier 6-6 295 So./4 70 Brady Norton 6-4 312 Jr./3 LG 58 Giovanni El-Hadi 6-5 315 Gr./1 55 Nathan Efobi 6-3 312 Jr./3 C 51 Greg Crippen 6-4 309 Gr./1 53 Jake Guarnera 6-4 311 So./4 RG 53 Jake Guarnera 6-4 311 So./4 55 Nathan Efobi 6-3 312 Jr./3 RT 54 Andrew Sprague 6-8 315 So./4 70 Brady Norton 6-4 312 Jr./3 DEFENSE Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. EDGE 1 Jaishawn Barham 6-3 243 Sr./1 4 TJ Guy 6-4 250 Gr./1 EDGE 8 Derrick Moore 6-3 260 Sr./1 9 Cameron Brandt 6-4 270 Jr./2 NT 95 Trey Pierce 6-2 310 Jr./2 44 Damon Payne Jr. 6-4 311 Gr./1 DT 26 Rayshaun Benny 6-4 305 Gr./1 0 Tré Williams 6-2 320 Gr./1 Mike 30 Jimmy Rolder 6-2 240 Sr./2 18 Troy Bowles 6-0 230 Jr./3 Will 23 Cole Sullivan 6-3 230 So./3 12 N. Owusu-Boateng 6-1 203 Fr./4 or 29 Chase Taylor 6-2 213 Fr./4 Nickel 7 TJ Metcalf 6-1 200 Jr./2 25 Mason Curtis 6-5 211 So./3 or 14 Jordan Young 6-0 195 Fr./4 CB 10 Zeke Berry 5-11 196 Sr./2 27 Jayden Sanders 6-1 193 Fr./4 CB 20 Jyaire Hill 6-2 190 Jr./3 13 Caleb Anderson 6-3 200 Gr./1 SS 6 Brandyn Hillman 6-0 200 Jr./2 14 Jordan Young 6-0 195 Fr./4 FS 3 Jaden Mangham 6-2 195 Sr./2 5 Jacob Oden 6-2 196 So./4 Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. K 96 Dominic Zvada 6-3 187 Sr./1 92 Beckham Sunderland 6-1 216 Sr./2 P 90 Hudson Hollenbeck 6-2 206 Sr./2 92 Beckham Sunderland 6-1 216 Sr./2 LS 45 Greg Tarr 6-2 220 Gr./1 67 Trent Middleton 6-2 225 Jr./3 Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. KR 4 Andrew Marsh 6-0 190 Fr./4 0 Semaj Morgan 5-10 174 Jr./2 PR 4 Andrew Marsh 6-0 190 Fr./4 0 Semaj Morgan 5-10 174 Jr./2 SPECIAL TEAMS THE WOLVERINE'S PROJECTED MICHIGAN DEPTH CHART