Michigan’s roster is pretty much set, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a wish list from other Big Ten teams. Here’s who we’d pick if the Wolverines could add one player from each roster in the Big Ten:
The Big Ten is coming off a few of its best seasons of college football, with two National Championships in back-to-back seasons and more than 70 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft . Despite losing talent across the conference, the Big Ten returns some familiar names and some players poised for a big season.
Considering the options Michigan has at each position, and areas where it might need more help, we picked one player from each opponent (yes, even the rivals) who we’d like to add to Michigan’s roster if we could.
RB Devin Mockobee, Purdue
Any sort of production on Purdue’s team last season was pretty impressive. Mockobee would certainly help Michigan’s running back room and would likely get some usage in the passing game. He had 138 carries for 687 yards and four touchdowns last year.
RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Yes, it’s fun to troll Penn State fans with clips of Kenneth Grant catching Allen, but that doesn’t mean you don’t consider him for the Michigan roster. He had 220 carries for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, and played extremely well in the College Football Playoff.
WR Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Smith was one of a few freshman wide receivers getting a ton of attention for his speed and play-making abilities, but the Wolverines managed to hold him to just five catches for 35 yards and one touchdown. Still, he ended the season with 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns on 76 catches, so yeah, he’s the player Michigan would want to get from Columbus.
WR Makai Lemon, USC
Lemon is on his way to becoming a crucial piece of the Trojans’ offense. As a sophomore, he had 52 catches for 764 yards and three touchdowns. He also does work on special teams, as he was second in the Big Ten last season in kickoff returns, averaging 27.1 yards per return with a long of 80 yards.
WR Nick Marsh, Michigan State
Marsh is another wideout who could help the Wolverines. He made a splash for the Spartans in a relatively underwhelming season in East Lansing and could have some impact in Ann Arbor. He ended his freshman season with 649 yards and three touchdowns.
WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
Cooper would greatly elevate Michigan’s pass game, as 24 of his 28 catches went for a first down or touchdown. That’s some impressive production from a player who was only a sophomore in 2024.
WR Octavian Smith Jr., Maryland
Maryland lost a lot of talent to the NFL Draft, but Smith is expected to step up for the Terrapins this season. Last year, he had 30 catches for 315 yards and two touchdowns, all while competing for catches against two receivers eventually taken in the draft.
TE Lance Mason, Wisconsin
Wisconsin picked up Mason from Missouri State this offseason through the transfer portal. While Mason might not be the top of the list for tight ends, he sure had an impact in 2024 with 34 catches for 590 yards and six touchdowns.
TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Evan Stewart would have been a top pick from Oregon had he not gotten hurt this spring. Instead, our pick is Sadiq, who had 24 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns a season ago. He’d be a utility player for offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, since the Ducks used him a few times in the run game.
OL Henry Lutovsky, Nebraska
Pro Football Focus has Lutovsky as one of the best-performing offensive linemen in the conference. As a senior, his experience would really come in handy on Michigan’s line. He plays right guard and has already shown he is a reliable player. He’d be just the type of guy you’d want looking out for Bryce Underwood.
OL Logan Jones, Iowa
Jones has a pretty impressive PFF grade at 83.6. The graduate-student center has a ton of experience, and Iowa’s offense rushed for more than 200 yards in eight games last year. A smart run-blocker like Jones would be a game-changer for the Wolverines.
OL Caleb Tiernan, Northwestern
Talk about a player who can elevate the offensive line. Tiernan, a Michigan native, would be a nice fit for the Wolverines at left tackle. He’s a reliable pass blocker and is a solid run-blocker as well.
DL Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei, Washington
The transfer from Arizona had 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season for the Wildcats and now heads to Seattle to play for former head coach Jedd Fisch. While the Huskies are loaded offensively, the defensive line can always use some more depth, which is why Uiagalelei is our pick here.
DL Rushawn Lawrence, Minnesota
There’s a reason Minnesota went after Lawrence in the portal this offseason. He is coming off three seasons at Stony Brook, though his 2023 season ended early due to injury. When he came back in 2024, he had 42 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. He also forced two fumbles and came up with an interception.
DB Bo Mascoe, Rutgers
Michigan’s got a solid group of defensive backs, but there’s always room for a guy like Mascoe. He ended the 2024 season with 50 tackles, one fumble recovery, one interception, and six pass deflections.
DB Kanye Clark, UCLA
Clark doesn’t have a ton of experience after suffering an injury in 2024, but he still has a ton of potential. He only played a handful of snaps, but his coverage and tackling are solid.
P Keelan Crimmins, Illinois
Crimmins transferred to Illinois from Purdue this offseason for his final year of eligibility. He got a lot of work done for the Boilermakers in 2024, averaging 44.9 yards per punt.
Thoughts? Let us know who you’d pick for Michigan’s roster in the comments below!