Predicting Michigan’s spring depth chart: Offense

We’re still about six months away from the kickoff of the 2025 football season, but Michigan will get started revamping its offense when spring practices start this month. Here’s our prediction of what the offensive depth chart looks like this spring:

Michigan’s 2025 season doesn’t kick off for another six months, but spring practices will get underway this month, allowing the coaching staff to get a better idea of what it’s working with. The offensive staff, led by new coordinator Chip Lindsey, will have its work cut out for it, fixing a unit that was among the worst in the nation last year, particularly through the air.

Fortunately for Lindsey, he’s got some shiny new toys to work with in the form of some freshman phenoms and skilled transfer portal imports. Plenty of players from last year are back as well who can hopefully take a step forward under Lindsey’s command.

With new and old names in the fold, there’s plenty for fans to sort through. Today, we’ll get things more organized by predicting what the depth chart for the offense looks like as we head into spring.

Quarterback

Starter – Mikey Keene; Depth – Bryce Underwood, Jadyn Davis, Davis Warren (injured)

When it comes to the quarterback position, there’s really one name that fans are excited for, and that’s Bryce Underwood. While the talented freshman will get his fair share of reps this spring, he’s almost certainly behind Mikey Keene on the depth chart for now.

Keene brings plenty of starting experience to the table, something Michigan lacked in 2024. 2025 will represent his fifth season as a college quarterback, and his past experience with Chip Lindsey at UCF should help as he mentors the younger players like Underwood. He’ll be a bridge quarterback who should start for right now, but it’ll be interesting to see how long the coaching staff plans to rely on him.

Underwood is dripping with potential as Michigan’s QB1 of the future, but he’s young and still needs to refine his skills while also adjusting to the complexity of the college game. We’ll definitely see him on the field in a limited capacity to start, similar to how we saw J.J. McCarthy in 2021, but it’s only a matter of time before the starting job is his.

Further down the depth chart, Jadyn Davis will look to advance in his development after a 2024 season in which he only played in one game. Meanwhile, last year’s starter, Davis Warren will be recovering from a knee injury that he suffered during the bowl game.

For a more in-depth look at the quarterbacks, read our spring preview .

Running Back

Starters – Justice Haynes, Jordan Marshall; Depth – Ben Hall, Micah Ka’apana, Donovan Johnson, Bryson Kuzdzal

Running back is easily the strongest position on Michigan’s offense for 2025. It’ll be led by a duo that could be one of the best in the Big Ten with sophomore Jordan Marshall and junior Alabama transfer Justice Haynes.

Haynes is more of a bruiser who has racked up 616 yards on 104 career carries thus far. Last season, he also showed that he’s a capable pass-catcher, pulling in 17 receptions, but he should serve a similar role to what we saw Kalel Mullings do in 2024. Marshall broke out in the ReliaQuest Bowl with over 100 yards and should be the lightning to Haynes’ thunder. He was hampered by an injury for much of last season, but 2025 could represent a full-scale breakout for the youngster. For now, expect a roughly even carry split between the two backs.

Behind Marshall and Haynes, Michigan has depth in all shapes and sizes. The primary backup should be junior Ben Hall, another bruising back who’s played sparingly thus far. Meanwhile, sophomore Micah Ka’apana is more of a speed merchant who can also serve as a receiving threat out of the backfield.

Further down the depth chart, Michigan has Donovan Johnson, an early-enrolling freshman from IMG Academy and former walk-on Bryson Kuzdzal.

For a more in-depth look at the running backs, read our spring preview.

Wide Receiver

Starters – Donaven McCulley, Semaj Morgan, Fred Moore; Depth – Peyton O’Leary, Kendrick Bell, Channing Goodwin, Anthony Simpson, Amorion Walker, Andrew Marsh, I’Marion Stewart

Wide receiver is one position where Michigan will need to take a big step forward in 2025. Fortunately, there’s plenty to work with. Donaven McCulley is the big name to watch, literally. The 6-foot-5 Indiana transfer should serve as Michigan’s new X-receiver after playing sparingly in 2024. He did register 644 yards and 48 receptions in 2023, though, and will look to bounce back in Lindsey’s offense.

Fred Moore and Semaj Morgan both underwhelmed last year, but perhaps improved quarterback play and an offense that suits their skillsets better can help them improve statistically. Morgan should return to his ideal role as a slot receiver and gadget player, while Moore could use his speed to be an adequate vertical threat.

Michigan also has plenty of inexperienced players who could look to climb the depth chart this spring. Two names that come to mind are Kendrick Bell and Channing Goodwin. Bell could also be a downfield option for the offense while also using his 6-foot-2 frame to help out in the red zone. Goodwin, meanwhile, could be a candidate for a second-year leap in Lindsey’s offense after not seeing the field much in 2024.

Other names that could make things interesting are Andrew Marsh, a highly touted four-star recruit, and Anthony Simpson, a speedy transfer from UMass that had 792 receiving yards in 2023.

For a more in-depth look at the wide receivers, read our spring preview.

Tight End

Starters – Marlin Klein, Max Bredeson (H-back); Depth – Hogan Hansen, Brady Prieskorn, Zack Marshall, Deakon Tonielli, Jalen Hoffman, Eli Owens

The Wolverines have big shoes to fill at tight end this year with Colston Loveland heading for the NFL. Fortunately, Michigan still has a couple of breakout candidates that could ease the sting of his departure. As a plus, Max Bredeson is back to captain the offense and serve a vital role in the run game as the H-back.

The presumed starter should be Marlin Klein, a senior who served as the No. 2 option last year at the position. He only had 13 receptions in 2024, but coaches and teammates have long raved about his speed and athleticism. Hopefully, those attributes can carry him to a breakout in 2025.

Additionally, Michigan has Hogan Hansen, who ascended throughout the 2024 campaign. He only registered seven receptions last season, but the hope is that another spring of development, improved quarterback play, and a new offensive scheme can help him break out as well.

Brady Prieskorn will look to bounce back after going down with an injury ahead of the Ohio State game, while Zack Marshall and Deakon Tonielli will serve as depth pieces.

For a more in-depth look at the tight ends, read our spring preview.

Offensive Line

Starters – LT Andrew Sprague, LG Brady Norton, C Greg Crippen, RG Gio El-Hadi, RT Evan Link; Depth – Nathan Efobi, Blake Frazier, Luke Hamilton, Andrew Babalola, Jake Guarnera, Avery Gach, Kaden Strayhorn

Michigan will need much more from its offensive line in 2025, but things were trending in the right direction toward the season’s end. Michigan does bring back a pair of starters in Greg Crippen and Gio El-Hadi, who should both reprise their roles at center and right guard, respectively.

Evan Link is also back after starting eleven games at right tackle in 2024. It was an up-and-down year for Link, who was actually replaced as a starter by Andrew Gentry mid-season. After returning to the starting lineup, Link played much better, particularly against Ohio State and Alabama. He’ll look to prove that his finish last year was no fluke. Sophomore Andrew Sprague similarly finished on a high note by dominating in his first career start in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Brady Norton is the early favorite to fill the starting role at left guard after transferring in from Cal Poly. He’ll need to adjust to the college game at the Division-I level, though, while also fending off the likes of returning players Nathan Efobi, Blake Frazier, and Luke Hamilton, who will look to fight for starting jobs.

The Wolverines have a few freshmen on campus as well. The biggest name is Andrew Babalola, a five-star tackle. If he’s able to develop quickly, he could be a candidate to get some snaps later in the year, possibly displacing either Link or Sprague to the inside.

For a more in-depth look at the offensive line, read our spring preview.