Michigan Football’s 2025 spring game featured plenty of impressive performances on both sides of the ball. Here’s a look at 3 offensive and 3 defensive players that stood out the most on Saturday afternoon:
The Michigan Wolverines ’ 2025 spring game featured some great performances on both sides of the ball, giving fans a first look at who some of the biggest contributors could be on the field this season.
Here’s a look at the three defensive, and three offensive players that stood out the most on Saturday.
DB Jo’ziah Edmond
Michigan needs another cornerback to step up alongside Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill this season, and Edmond entered the spring as a candidate to do so. Playing for the maize team on Saturday, Edmond made a good impression and appears to be in the running to be the No. 3 corner on the depth chart.
On Saturday, Edmond made a handful of nice tackles in run support, including a stop on a fourth-and-one on Justice Haynes. He also helped disrupt a Bryce Underwood deep ball intended for Jamar Browder in the third quarter. Edmond seemed to ascend as the season went on last year, so hopefully this was the start of a breakout campaign.
RB Justice Haynes
Haynes was one of the bigger additions Michigan made in the portal this offseason, and he got the start at running back for the blue team. He made an impact right away, both carrying and catching the ball. His biggest play of the game was a 26-yard run in the first quarter to help set up a field goal.
On Saturday, Haynes made a handful of impactful runs, regularly showcasing the power and strength that makes him a difficult player to bring down. Fans should look forward to him being a good complement to Jordan Marshall this fall.
DB Tevis Metcalf
Transferring over from Arkansas, Metcalf hadn’t had much of an impact in his freshman season with the Razorbacks. However, he put together a nice performance in coverage for the maize team on Saturday.
Lining up at corner, Metcalf made a pair of nice plays in the second quarter. His first was a pass breakup in the end zone on an Underwood pass intended for Joe Taylor. The other was an interception on third-and-long on an errant Underwood throw. It remains to be seen how impactful Metcalf will be this fall, but his spring game was a good start to his Michigan career.
TE Jalen Hoffman
Hogan Hansen didn’t play on Saturday, giving some other tight ends a chance to get some snaps. One of those players was Hoffman, who was rather busy for the blue team. With some more progression in the summer, perhaps we could see an increased role from him this season.
Hoffman has’t been a name generating much buzz with the tight ends thus far, but he sure looked like Underwood’s favorite target in the spring game. He made a handful of nice receptions on out routes and crossers to keep drives alive. He also had the biggest play of the game, a touchdown for 88 yards on a flea flicker to end the game.
DE Dominic Nichols
Nichols has received some rave reviews this spring, and he looked the part for the blue team. His biggest play of the day was a sack of Jadyn Davis in the second quarter on which he used his speed to get past freshman offensive tackle Andrew Babalola, the first overall pick in the spring game draft.
With some snaps to go around on the edge this season, Nichols’ ascent has been an important development for Wink Martindale’s defense. With some more progression in the summer, he could get a lot of snaps this fall.
RB Bryson Kuzdzal
The Wolverines lost Benjamin Hall to the transfer portal earlier this week, meaning there was a good chance for another running back to step up in the spring game. Kuzdzal did just that, making a good case to be the No. 3 man on the depth chart.
At 198 pounds, Kuzdzal’s slashing style is a good complement to what Michigan has with Marshall and Haynes. On Saturday, he showed some speed and shiftiness, exploding for a 38-yard carry in the third quarter. He also broke a handful of tackles and helped keep drives alive for the maize team, which otherwise struggled to generate offense. It’ll be interesting to see if he can pass Micah Ka’apana on the depth chart before the season starts, but he made a good impression on Saturday.