Members of Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class who could be in for big roles as freshmen

Plenty of new faces will have to emerge for Michigan in 2025, including some new recruits who might see the field early on. Here’s a look at five incoming freshman that could be poised for big roles next fall:

With Michigan’s 2024 football season officially in the books, preparation can now begin for what should be an exciting 2025. Spring ball will commence in just a few weeks, giving the coaches a chance to start molding their team together.

A unique aspect of this is that several members of Michigan’s 2025 recruiting class will already be on campus as early enrollees , practicing right alongside their new teammates and getting acclimated to the college game. With several contributors leaving on the defensive side of the ball and upgrades needed on offense, it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of these young players quickly climb the depth charts at their positions.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at five of those players who could be in for big roles thanks to their talent and current state of the depth chart.

QB Bryce Underwood

No real surprise here. Bryce Underwood is entering the college game as one of the most hyped quarterback recruits in recent memory after a stellar career at Belleville High School. Flipping him from LSU was a major win for Sherrone Moore and the coaching staff not only because of his abundance of talent, but because of how grim Michigan’s quarterback situation was looking without him in the fold. Now, it’s time for the hype to come to fruition.

Underwood will battle it out with Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene for the starting job. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Keene get the start for Michigan in Week 1, but Underwood should still play thanks to the threat he is with his legs. Think about how the Wolverines utilized J.J. McCarthy as a freshman — this role could eventually be parlayed into more playing time or even being named the starter as the season progresses. Underwood will very likely be playing in some capacity early on.

WR Andrew Marsh

Wide receiver was another spot where Michigan was lacking in 2024. After Roman Wilson and Cornelius Johnson left after 2024, the Wolverines were looking for guys like Semaj Morgan and Tyler Morris to step up. While the quarterback play didn’t do them any favors, neither (or any other receivers) showed to be consistent threats to opposing defenses.

Enter Andrew Marsh, a high-end athlete with the ability to line up all over the field. At the high school level, he showed he can do everything from run great routes, to making plays in traffic, and running after the catch. He was also doing it against some high-end competition in the state of Texas.

He might face some competition as Michigan brings in transfer Donaven McCulley , and potentially additional transfers, but wide receiver has traditionally been a position in college football where true freshmen can shine. Maybe Marsh is that guy for the Wolverines in 2025.

OL Kaden Strayhorn

Sticking with the theme of positions where Michigan struggled in 2024, the offensive line deserved its fair share of criticism. Everything starts up front offensively, and Michigan will be looking to make some upgrades after underwhelming this past year. Josh Priebe and Myles Hinton are headed for the NFL, which means at least two spots are up for grabs.

Kaden Strayhorn is a sleeper that could really benefit from being on campus this spring. He mostly played tackle as a senior at IMG Academy, but he was recruited by Michigan to play center. He’s a technically sound player, giving him a leg up on other recruits, but he needs to add some size in the weight room. With the Wolverines needing upgrades up front this year, remember Strayhorn’s name as the season progresses.

CB Shamari Earls

Michigan is set to lose a couple key contributors in its secondary, including cornerback Will Johnson. The Wolverines held their own with Johnson sidelined for the second half of the season, relying on Jyaire Hill, Aamir Hall and Zeke Berry, but play was still inconsistent and there was plenty of room for another contributor to emerge.

Flipping Shamari Earls from Georgia was a big win, as he could play a role right away in Michigan’s secondary. He’s already physically imposing at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, and was also credited with great ball skills and athleticism by evaluators. Like many top recruits, Earls already has the physical tools, he’ll just need to shore up his technique a bit before getting on the field.

S Jordan Young

While he might not see the field on defense immediately, Jordan Young has the chance to follow a similar trajectory to Rod Moore, another nickel-type safety that was playing a big role for Michigan by the end of his freshman year. The biggest knock on Young right now appears to be his size, as he’s just 6-foot and 177 pounds.

The safety and nickel spots, positions where Young fits, could be up for grabs. Zeke Berry is back, but he showed to be better as a boundary corner than in the slot, while Makari Paige — who finished as Michigan’s nickel in 2024 — is off to the NFL. Additionally, safety Quinten Johnson has exhausted his eligibility, and we’re still awaiting a decision on if Moore will return. Michigan’s secondary will look different in 2025, and perhaps Young will be playing a role in it at some point as a freshman.