What will Michigan's spring football game tell us? Here are 10 players you need to watch

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The Wolverines could hold out as many as 18 projected starters from Saturday’s scrimmage, he said, which will create opportunities for backups to show what they can do. “We’re not going to put a guy in there that we know what he can do and he’s where he needs to be and he’s played hundreds of snaps here,” Whittingham said. “There’s no reason for that. It’s a chance to showcase the twos and threes in as close to a game environment as we can manufacture.” Backups are often the most interesting players in a spring game, so the absence of many of Michigan’s starters shouldn’t ruin the show. If anything, it could magnify the competition for key spots on the depth chart where the Wolverines are still evaluating candidates. Here are 10 players to watch in Michigan’s spring scrimmage, which begins at 2 p.m. ET. Hiter, the No. 12 player in the Rivals industry rankings for the Class of 2026, arrived on campus as an early enrollee expected to contribute right away. Those expectations have only grown in the month since Michigan opened spring practice. “When he showed up, off the film you knew he has a lot of talent, a lot of ability,” offensive coordinator Jason Beck said. “What I’ve been impressed with is just how hard he goes and competes in everything, all the time. It’s not a thing where you show up as a true freshman and you’re trying to figure your way out. He’s in there and he’s going as hard as you can go.” Jordan Marshall is an established starter who had four consecutive 100-yard games before a late-season shoulder injury. Hiter has positioned himself to be Michigan’s No. 2 running back and could work his way into a carry-splitting situation if he continues to impress. Once again, Michigan is shorthanded at quarterback in the spring. The main beneficiary is Carr, who capitalized on the departure of LSU transfer Colin Hurley and the delayed arrival of Colorado State transfer Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to stake his claim as Michigan’s backup QB. “Tommy Carr has been a pleasant surprise for us,” Whittingham said. “He’s really progressed throughout spring and emerged, at least for right now, as the No. 2 guy.” Carr, a freshman from Saline, Mich., was a late addition to Michigan’s recruiting class who flipped from Miami (Ohio). Whittingham has spent time with Carr’s grandfather, former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, this spring while watching Tommy display his feel for the quarterback position. It’s no surprise that Carr is already outplaying his three-star rating. Michigan’s top three linebackers are gone from last season, leaving Bowles as the most established returning player. A move into the starting lineup is the natural next step. Bowles, the son of Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles, has played for three defensive coordinators the past three seasons: Glenn Schumann at Georgia in 2024, Wink Martindale last year and now Jay Hill. Hill’s defense has its complexities, but Bowles said the learning curve hasn’t been too steep. “Especially going through multiple coaches, I feel like I can take everything I learned and use all that to help me with the playbook,” Bowles said. “I’m just taking everything I’ve learned from that school to this school, old coaching staff, new coaching staff, and putting it all together.” Moa is another freshman who’s pushing for a major role in Michigan’s offense. The Wolverines don’t return a lot of production at wide receiver outside of Andrew Marsh, and the early word on Moa is that he’s been a handful for Michigan’s defensive backs in spring practice. Cornerback Jyaire Hill said Moa reminded him of Roman Wilson, a wide receiver who played bigger than his listed size and became a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The physical adjustment to the Big Ten doesn’t seem too daunting for Moa. “I wouldn’t say that’s a surprise,” Whittingham said, “but he’s really made strides.” Spring games aren’t just about evaluating players. They also provide a basic look at schemes and personnel packages, even if coaches typically keep things vanilla. One thing to watch is how Michigan uses its tight ends and fullbacks. Michigan deployed Max Bredeson as a blocking fullback and was developing Owens in a similar mold. If Owens is on the field as a lead blocker, it could be a sign that Beck sees value in that role. If the Wolverines de-emphasize the fullback/H-back role, it’s possible Owens could see more time as an inline blocker and a pass-catching tight end. Either way, he’s a player who could have a role this season. Whittingham mentioned the backup defensive backs as one of Michigan’s questions as spring practice winds down. It would be a positive sign if some of the Wolverines’ young DBs play well in the spring game and solidify themselves in backup roles. Earls, a second-year player and a top-100 prospect from the Class of 2025, should push for a bigger role this season. He was inconsistent as a freshman but has the talent to be an elite cornerback. The spring game is a chance for him to show he’s ready to be the first cornerback off of the bench behind Hill, Zeke Berry and Utah transfer Smith Snowden. Priority No. 1 for Michigan’s offensive line is to get healthy. With a few front-line players limited this spring, the Wolverines can use the spring game to get a look at players who might be a year or two away from significant snaps. Hamilton flew under the radar as a late addition to Michigan’s 2026 recruiting class who flipped from Virginia Tech just before signing day. His commitment was, understandably, not the biggest story in the news cycle at the time. He was a three-star prospect ranked outside of the top 500. but he’s already looking like one of those underrated offensive linemen who could become a contributor at guard or center. Whittingham said the defensive line is one of the deepest positions on the team, which means the coaching staff feels good about some players who haven’t played a lot of snaps. Is Palepale one of them? Teammates have mentioned him as a potential breakout candidate, another sign that he’s inching closer to meaningful playing time. At 6 feet 2 and 335 pounds, Palepale is built to be a run-stuffing nose tackle. The Wolverines don’t have a lot of those on their roster. There could be a role for him in this defense if he’s ready for it. Whittingham’s comment about the defensive line applies to the edge players, too. Utah transfer John Henry Daley is a proven commodity. Otherwise, Michigan has a mix of defensive ends looking for early- or mid-career breakouts. Marshall is still a young player and has one of the highest ceilings of any pass rusher on the roster. He appeared in 11 games as a freshman and didn’t have a sack or a tackle for loss, giving only glimpses of what he can do. He could be a real weapon if the Wolverines can find a role for him as a situational pass rusher. It’s hard to know what, if anything, to expect from Underwood on Saturday. He could be among the starters who don’t play, and even if he’s out there, Michigan could keep his snaps to a minimum. Somebody has to play quarterback, though. Unless the Wolverines plan to roll with Carr and Chase Herbstreit the whole time, they’ll need Underwood to handle some of the work. There could be value in getting Underwood on the field, even if it’s just for a series or two. The quarterbacks won’t be getting hit, so the injury risk is low. Even though he’s an established starter — Whittingham made that clear before the first spring practice — Underwood also has a lot to prove after an up-and-down freshman season. Whittingham said Underwood’s footwork and decision-making have improved this spring, which is exactly what fans want to hear. It would be good to see it, too. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Austin Meek covers Michigan football and basketball for The Athletic. He previously covered college sports for The Topeka Capital-Journal and served as sports columnist at The Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon. Follow Austin on Twitter @byaustinmeek