5 Michigan Football players with the most to gain in 2025

With some elite talent out the door this offseason, there’s room for some new contributors to step up and make a name for themselves. Here are five Michigan Football players that have the most to gain this season:

The Michigan Wolverines enter 2025 with a bit of a new-look. While there’s roster churn every offseason in college football, things are different for Michigan this year, as elite talent like Mason Graham, Will Johnson and Colston Loveland are now in the NFL.

Instead, Michigan is looking for some new players to emerge and take on those star roles. Fortunately, there are a handful of players that could be poised to make that leap to stardom in 2025, not just helping Michigan win games, but putting themselves on national radars.

Here are five players we believe have the most to gain in 2025.

RB Jordan Marshall

While Marshall isn’t exactly an unknown, he didn’t have much of an impact as a true freshman until his 100-yard game against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Sitting behind Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards while simultaneously battling the injury bug, Marshall wasn’t able to put himself on the map during the regular season. That all could change in 2025.

Entering his sophomore season, Marshall is poised to start alongside Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Marshall is a bigger back that boasts good contact balance. As a recruit, he was also lauded for his vision, cutting ability, and more burst than long speed, building him into a similar profile as former Michigan great Blake Corum.

Now, it’d be a big stretch to say Marshall will reach Corum levels of production, but they do play a similar brand of football, which is something Michigan could greatly benefit from. If the run game is going to bounce back to being among the nation’s best anytime soon, Marshall’s emergence could be a big reason why.

WR Channing Goodwin

Michigan brought in Donaven McCulley from the transfer portal to help lead the receiver room, but there’s still room for more contributors to step up on the depth chart. Goodwin is a decent candidate to do so.

A former four-star recruit from North Carolina, Goodwin didn’t see the field much at all as a freshman last year, appearing in just four games and not recording any receptions. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he could be a candidate to be Michigan’s Z receiver if Fred Moore is unable to tighten his grip on the position.

Goodwin showed some good speed and footwork in the spring game to routinely get open and was slightly overthrown in the end zone for what would’ve been a long touchdown reception as well. He’s built in a similar mold to Roman Wilson with comparable size and quickness. Let’s see if he can take a similar leap in his second season.

TE Hogan Hansen

Michigan has a knack for producing great tight ends, but the best of the bunch just left for the NFL this offseason. With Loveland no longer part of the equation, there’s room for another young and talented player to ascend and put his stamp on the passing game.

The guy who could do that is Hogan Hansen. He appeared in 10 games as a freshman last year and recorded seven receptions for 78 yards. He didn’t have the sort of pop to end the season that Loveland showed as a freshman, but he’s still a talented option that boasts size and athleticism.

Nobody really stepped up at tight end behind Loveland last season, but Michigan’s passing game as a whole was a bit of a disaster. With some improved quarterback play and Chip Lindsey now pulling the strings, a player like Hansen could emerge and put himself on the national radar.

Edge Dominic Nichols

Michigan has two great edge rushers at the top of its depth chart in Derrick Moore and T.J. Guy, but Michigan will still need players to step up behind them as depth and the potential to start in the future, as both guys are entering their senior seasons.

Enter Dominic Nichols, a sophomore who came to Michigan as a bit of a project. He’s a player that has gotten rave reviews from the coaching staff since last season ended, as he’s become more than just a pass rush specialist and can contribute on all three downs.

Nichols was another freshman that didn’t see the field much last season, but now having put on more than 20 pounds since he arrived on campus, he’s more ready to mix it up with the Big Ten’s best offensive tackles. Even if he’s not dominating the snap counts, look for him to start making an impact in 2025.

CB Shamari Earls

It’s no secret Michigan needs more contributors at corner with Will Johnson gone. It’s also no secret Earls is a player the program and fans are rather excited about. He flipped his commitment from Georgia back in November and brings the type of talent to the room Michigan badly needs.

Not only does Earls boast plenty of natural talent, he’s already got a college-ready frame at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds. Michigan also let him wear the No. 2 jersey having not even played a college snap yet, something not many players get to do.

Having enrolled early, Earls has already jumpstarted his development in Wink Martindale’s scheme and has been impressive so far . He likely won’t be a starter in Week 1, but don’t be surprised to see him command more playing time as the year progresses. There’s little question Earls can make an immediate impact, it’s just a matter of how much and how early.