The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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SEPTEMBER 2026 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 33 ZACH LUDWIG LB ★★★ Saw action in one game in 2025, marking Ludwig's only career appearance to date. JORDAN MARSHALL RB ★★★★ The 2023 Mr. Ohio Football honoree played in five games as a freshman, rushing 31 times for 120 yards, highlighted by a 100-yard per- formance in a ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Alabama. Last season, Marshall played in 11 games with four starts, earning 150 carries for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns, and adding 9 receptions for 92 yards. He was named the team's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and an All-Big Ten second-team choice by the media. DOMINIC NICHOLS EDGE ★★★ Labeled by defensive coordinator Jay Hill as one of the best defenders during Michigan's spring practices, Nichols is on the verge of breaking out. He played in 12 games in 2025, recording 19 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 1 sack, after appearing in five contests and earning Scout Team Player of the Year on Defense in 2024. JACOB ODEN S ★★★★ Competed in 10 contests with 3 tackles, 2 pass breakups and 1 interception in 2025, and appeared in four games in 2024. DEYVID PALEPALE DT ★★★ Primed to enter the defensive tackle rota- tion this season, Palepale was buried on the depth chart early in his career, with only two career appearances in 2025. BRADY PRIESKORN TE ★★★★ Prieskorn transferred this offseason to Ole Miss, where his brother Caden played from 2023-24 before heading to the NFL. Prieskorn played in three games at Michigan during his two-year career. BEN ROEBUCK OL ★★★ Roebuck departed for Western Michi- gan this offseason after playing in only two games during his Michigan tenure. ANDREW SPRAGUE OL ★★★★ The 2025 All-Big Ten honorable mention pick started 12 games at right tackle in 2025 after playing in four contests with one start as a freshman in 2024. Sprague led the Mich- igan offensive line with a 72.6 overall PFF rating last fall. I'MARION STEWART CB ★★★★ Switched from wide receiver to cornerback and is looking to make his first career game appearance this season. COLE SULLIVAN LB ★★★★ Stood out with 44 tackles, including 5 for loss and 2 sacks, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and 4 pass breakups in 11 games with three starts in 2025. He transferred to Oklahoma this offseason and will face Michi- gan on Sept. 12 at The Big House. OWEN WAFLE DT ★★★ Entered the transfer portal in January 2025 and landed at Big Ten rival Penn State, after not seeing action in any games in 2024, and has since transferred to Duke. He saw time in nine contests at Penn State last season, totaling 4 tackles. ❏ TOP CONTRIBUTOR TO DATE RB Jordan Marshall Named a spring captain, the Cincinnati native is one of the top leaders on Michi- gan's offense, and he doesn't just lead with his voice. Marshall is as tough as they come, routinely initiating contact for the extra yard (or more). He led the Wol- verines with 932 rushing yards in only 11 games last season despite beginning the year in a reserve role. UNSUNG HERO OL Jake Guarnera Overlooked to begin the 2025 season, Guarnera became one of the most im- portant players on Michigan's offense and arguably the best player on the line. Guarnera has stepped up his leadership even more and projects as the team's starting center. READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT THIS FALL TE Hogan Hansen, DE Dominic Nichols Both players were backups who showed flashes of having high potential each of the last two seasons. But now that Han- sen is healthy, both he and Nichols have the chance to start and be prominent forces on their respective sides of the football. REPORT CARD: Players In Class: 26 Rivals Industry Team Rank- ing: 16th Players Still At Michigan: 19 C+ Safety Mason Curtis (25) recorded 34 tackles in 11 games with three starts last season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL