The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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34 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2026 Week award honorable mention. Weeks later, he added All-Big Ten honorable mention by coaches and media, along with making the On3 College Football Freshman All-American squad. His older teammates don't hold back when assessing how the rookie im- pacted the season. "That was unbelievable as a freshman to go out there and make that catch, Bryce to make that throw," junior edge rusher Cam Brandt said, regarding the clutch chains-mover at Wrigley. "It was just a great thing to see. "He's just been doing a great job of taking coaching, listening to the older guys and applying it to his game. We tell him how he can elevate his game. He's had a great attitude, going out to prac- tice, in the games, in the meetings. He's had a great attitude about the whole thing." "When we came in and started spring ball practice, we could see he could catch the ball, really make any type of catch" junior defensive back T.J. Met- calf said. "As the season went on, he just emerged. He's making the most out of his opportunities. The third-down conversion he had was very big for us in that game. I was like 'Wow.' In that game, he really gave us a chance. That's something we love to see out of a young guy. He's doing a good job." The Michigan coaching staff continu- ally pointed out the biggest difference from the start of the season — involving Marsh knowing what he's doing at all times. It's such a major step up for a fresh- man, and the Michigan coaches saw Marsh continue to grow. He admitted the difference when he fully got his feet under him and grasped what they were asking of him at different spots on the field. "That's something that definitely challenged me before," Marsh noted. "Coming here, there was a lot more I had to learn in the game. Going from high school to college, there's a lot more you've got to know. The playbook was something I kind of struggled with. With the help of the coaches and all the work we put in, it wasn't too hard. I just spent a lot more time in the facil- ity. Early mornings, late nights, stuff like that." He also concurred with those who in- sist high school football in Texas is just different. There's still a massive jump to college ball, but they're pretty serious about their collective stars in the Lone Star State. "It definitely helped prepare me," he said. "Football in the South is a lot dif- ferent than anywhere else, in my opin- ion. Just being able to experience that definitely helped me." GROWING UP QUICKLY Marsh's father died when Andrew was only 7 years old. He's been learning on the fly ever since. Even with a foot- Marsh, who switched to jersey No. 3 for the Citrus Bowl, closed out his debut season with a team- leading 1,087 all-purpose yards (651 receiving, 378 kick return, 45 punt return and 13 rushing), finishing just ahead of sophomore running back Jordan Marshall (1,024). PHOTO BY TY KORNBLUE