It’s not a bad thing if you don’t have a ton of freshmen playing. At the same time, there always seem to be at least a few who rise to the occasion and you hope that’s the case for Michigan football.
The Wolverines had nine freshmen who enrolled early. Those players might have a slightly better chance of playing early because they are more familiar with the system and with college football in general.
However, if you’re good enough, you’re good enough.
There are a few spots on the depth chart that are a little thin too. There is a potential path to extensive playing time for some of the incoming freshmen and here are five to keep an eye on this fall.
QB Jadyn Davis
Ideally Alex Orji or Davis Warren would claim the job and the Wolverines wouldn’t need to try and play Davis before he’s ready. But the plan wasn’t for John Navarre to start a bunch of games back in the day. Sometimes, it just works out that way.
In Navarre’s case, injury gave him his first opportunity. That’s always possible too. Davis got a lot of mixed reviews from the recruiting analysts but he was a top-10 quarterback according to the 247 Sports composite rankings. He showed off his arm talent in the spring game and didn’t look ready to start but he showed his upside.
If he can grow up a little quicker than expected and if some others don’t perform as well as expected, there could be an opportunity for Davis to play earlier for Michigan football.
WR I’Marion Stewart
A 5-foot-11, 180-pound receiver, I’Marion Stewart wasn’t among the nine early enrollees for Michigan football but that doesn’t mean he can play early.
Michigan football isn’t super deep at receiver. The depth is better after two transfer portal additions but Stewart strikes me as someone who could work his way onto the field like Semaj Morgan did last year.
Stewart caught 38 passes for 909 yards as a senior and returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown. Even if Stewart contributes as a return guy, that could be valuable for a team that had struggled fielding punts last season.
RB Jordan Marshall
The top-100 running back is another player who didn’t enroll early for Michigan football but could have an early impact. The depth chart is working against him with Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings expected to get the bulk of the carries along with Benjamin Hall. Cole Cobana is in the mix too.
The 5-foot-11, 200-pound running back is the highest-ranked recruit at the position since Edwards and it wouldn’t be shocking if he worked his way into the mix by the end of the season.
Other guys have to stay healthy and at running back, you usually need to go a little deeper than the top two on the depth chart. Plus, running backs are generally able to transition easier than some other positions which could also help Marshall get onto the field earlier.
LB Cole Sullivan
The four-star linebacker did enroll early and had some eye-opening moments in the spring game. He was one of the Wolverines first commitments in the 2024 class. When he committed, he was listed as an EDGE.
But he’s a linebacker (6-3, 215). He could do a bunch of different things though. He’s good in pass coverage, can blitz, and has a knack for finding the ball.
Michigan football has two standout starters. I’m not worried about Ernest Hausmann or Jaishawn Barham at all. But the depth is a little thin, which could provide Sullivan a chance to get on the field. He’s already shown that college football isn’t too big for him.
Jo’Ziah Edmond
Jo’Ziah Edmond is another dude who is flying under the radar a little bit. He was a three-star cornerback when Michigan football flipped him. Yet, he finished ranked No. 158 overall and 20th among cornerbacks according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.
The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder might be just good enough to get on the field as a freshman. The Wolverines reinforced the depth chart during the spring so Edmonds will have his work cut out for him, but some players are just dudes — almost right away — and I wonder if Edmonds if one of those guys.
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