The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
2 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW FEATURES TRANSITIONAL YEAR .................................21 New Coaching Staff Plus A Mix Of Talent Have Michigan Primed To Compete In Big Ten And Nationally BURNING QUESTIONS ................................36 College Football Experts Preview Michigan's 2026 Season GEARING UP .............................................40 Q&A With Offensive Coordinator Jason Beck ALL EYES ON 19 .........................................42 Bryce Underwood Holds The Ladder To Michigan's Ceiling POWER MOVE ...........................................58 JJ Buchanan Heads East With Championship Hopes O-LINE LEGACY ........................................70 Blake Frazier Is Following In The Footsteps Of His Father, Steve A NEW MINISTER OF DEFENSE ....................80 Q&A With Michigan Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill 'RELENTLESS' ............................................86 John Henry Daley Is Healing, Working And Ready To Win LEADING AND COMPETING .......................94 Troy Bowles Is Ready To Meet His Lofty Potential A STEP UP ............................................... 104 Smith Snowden: Ready To Show What He Can Do On Biggest Stage POSITION GROUPS Quarterbacks ............................................ 46 Running Backs .......................................... 54 Wide Receivers .......................................... 60 Tight Ends ................................................ 66 Offensive Linemen .................................... 74 Defensive Linemen .................................... 88 Linebackers .............................................. 98 Defensive Backs ....................................... 106 Special Teams .......................................... 112 DEPARTMENTS Wolverine Watch • John Borton ....................... 4 Michigan Football Notes ............................... 6 Sayfie Blitz • Clayton Sayfie ........................ 158 Inside The Numbers • Drew Hallett .............. 159 Inside Michigan • Chris Balas ..................... 160 ALSO INSIDE Rosters .................................................... 18 Big Ten Preview ....................................... 116 Opponent Previews ................................... 120 2025 Year In Review .................................. 134 2025 Statistics .......................................... 138 2021 Class Review .................................... 140 Pro Update ............................................... 145 Recruiting: 2027 Priorities ......................... 150 Recruiting: U-M's 10 Most Wanted ............... 154 Recruiting: 2028 Elite Targets ..................... 156 Right Man, Right tiMe Kyle Whittingham Comes To Michigan With Something To Prove PAGE 24 new SheRiff, SaMe MaRShall Jordan Marshall Knows He's Where He Belongs PAGE 50 the foundation up fRont Defensive Tackle Trey Pierce Is Prepared To Meet His Lofty Potential PAGE 82 2 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW PHOTOS BY LON HORWEDEL