Bryce Underwood has garnered plenty of offseason buzz, but he’s not the only player who could shape the 2025 season for Michigan. Here are six Wolverines who could swing things entirely:
Excitement is building in Ann Arbor as the 2025 Michigan football season inches closer. Expectations are sky-high thanks in large part to five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, but as exciting as Underwood’s arrival is, the Wolverines’ success this year will depend on more than just its new quarterback.
There are plenty of unknowns on this roster — transfers, returning players with something to prove and position battles still being decided. If this team is going to make another serious run at a Big Ten title and a return to the College Football Playoff, the Wolverines need more than a few key guys to step up in a big way.
Here are six players who could swing the entire season.
Marlin Klein
Michigan’s offense is undergoing a bit of a transformation, and one of the key questions is: Who replaces the production of Colston Loveland?
Enter Marlin Klein — the 6-foot-6 senior has been a part of Michigan’s offensive rotation since 2023 and now becomes the leader of a deep but unproven position group.
Physically, Klein has everything you want in a TE1 — size, speed, and experience (418 snaps last year). What he doesn’t have yet is consistent production, just 13 catches for 108 yards in 2024. But if he can take a leap like Luke Schoonmaker did in 2022, he could become a major weapon for the Wolverines in the passing game and a safety net in high-pressure moments.
With Michigan desperate for reliable pass-catchers, Klein’s emergence as a legitimate No. 1 option at the position would be a massive boost.
Jyaire Hill
The secondary is one of Michigan’s biggest strengths on paper, but the on-field performance of that unit will strongly hinge on the continued development of cornerback Jyaire Hill.
Hill flashed his high-end potential late in 2024, allowing just seven receptions for 68 yards over his final six games. He has the speed (10.7 100m) and size (6-foot-2) to be a lockdown corner, and he’s already being talked about as a potential 2026 first-round pick.
The question isn’t whether Hill is talented, it’s whether his consistency and maturity can match. He’ll likely be paired with Zeke Berry on the outside, and both must take another step forward with Will Johnson now in the NFL.
If Hill becomes a true No. 1 corner, Michigan’s defense could again be among the best in the nation.
Donaven McCulley
Michigan’s offense has lacked a go-to wide receiver since the departure of Roman Wilson two years ago. In 2025, the Wolverines can’t afford to have the same issue. That’s where Donaven McCulley comes in.
The 6-foot-5 transfer from Indiana had 48 receptions for 644 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. He was the guy for the Hoosiers, and now Michigan hopes he can be the same in Ann Arbor.
There’s a clear opening for a WR1, and McCulley is the most proven candidate. His ability to separate, make contested catches and stretch the field will be critical in taking pressure off the run game and unlocking the vertical passing game. If he lives up to his potential, he could be the X-factor that pushes Michigan’s offense to the next gear.
Tré Williams
On paper, Michigan’s defensive line is loaded with depth. But replacing Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant — two of the program’s most dominant interior linemen in recent memory — is no small task.
Tré Williams may be the guy to help ease that transition. The former Clemson Tiger has all of the measurables needed (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) to make an immediate impact and flashed some of that potential in 2024 with two sacks. If he can build on that momentum, Williams could help the Wolverines maintain their defensive dominance.
While Trey Pierce, Enow Etta and Ike Iwunnah will rotate in — along with fellow transfer Damon Payne Jr. — Williams has the experience and physical profile to be a true difference-maker. If he emerges as a disruptive force inside, the Wolverines might not miss a beat up front.
Zeke Berry
Jyaire Hill might be getting more offseason buzz, but Zeke Berry is every bit as important to Michigan’s 2025 secondary. After switching between roles in 2024, he’ll once again be projected to start full-time on the outside this year.
Berry and Hill need to become a cohesive, high-performing duo if Michigan hopes to go toe-to-toe offensively against teams like Oregon, Washington, and Ohio State , all of which bring serious firepower at wide receiver.
Obvious Mention: Bryce Underwood
Of course, we’d be remiss to not mention Bryce Underwood. The five-star freshman quarterback is already the face of the program before taking a single snap. His size, arm talent and athleticism are elite, and he’s fully embraced the pressure that comes with being a quarterback at Michigan.
If Underwood is as good as advertised, Michigan is a College Football Playoff team. But even if he’s just solid, the Wolverines should win 9-10 games behind their defense and run game. Still, his ceiling is the program’s ceiling. If he reaches it early, Ann Arbor could be rocking come December.