5 Michigan Football offensive players from the last decade we’d want in 2026

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There’s always at least one player that truly stands out on the University of Michigan football team every season. Since 2016, we’ve seen several high-quality players leave their mark on this program, and some of those guys would play a huge role on the 2026 team if they were hypothetically given another year of eligibility.

If we could add a player et every position for 2026, here are our picks for the five players on offense.

Quarterback – J.J. McCarthy (2021-23)

We all want to see Bryce Underwood succeed this season, but if I’m adding any quarterback to this roster from the last decade, J.J. McCarthy is the no-brainer. He won the starting job as a sophomore and worked in a system that highlighted what the team needed. He finished with 482 completions for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while also running the ball 161 times for 632 yards and 10 touchdowns. If there’s any quarterback that could help a young Underwood grow early in his career, you’ve got to go with McCarthy.

Running Back – Hassan Haskins (2018-21)

This was one of the tougher positions to try to pick just one guy. Michigan has had some truly incredible and impactful running backs over the last decade, and it’s not a position we typically worry about that much. Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter are already getting a ton of attention this offseason, but there’s just something about Haskins’ senior season and his performance against Ohio State. You can credit some of that to the offensive line, but Haskins also knew how to take advantage of the space they gave him. Against Ohio State, he had 28 carries for 169 yards and a whopping five touchdowns. I’d take that on this roster any day.

Wide Receiver – Nico Collins (2017-19)

In Collins’ final season at Michigan, he finished with 37 catches for 729 yards and seven touchdowns. Throughout his career, he accounted for 1,388 yards and 13 touchdowns. While the Wolverines have certainly added to their wide receiver room this season, I wouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to add Collins’ size to this roster. While playing in a physical conference like the Big Ten, it’d be nice to have a receiver built like Collins. While Donovan Peoples-Jones would be a nice hypothetical addition as well, Collins’ size would help give the Wolverines more options in the downfield passing game.

Tight End – Colston Loveland (2022-24)

You could argue choosing Loveland as our tight end is just recency bias, but you could also say it’s common sense. Loveland’s importance on a team goes well beyond his stats. While he had 56 catches for 582 yards in 2024, he was also dealing with an injury that season. He averaged more than 10 yards per catch in each of his three seasons in Ann Arbor and finished his career with 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. Having a player like Loveland would elevate any offense.

Offensive Line – C Olu Oluwatimi (2022)

Enough people have pointed out just how crucial Oluwatimi was for Michigan in 2022. He’s one of the smartest players the Wolverines have had on the offensive line in a program known for its consistency in the trenches over the years. We like Jake Guarnera and his potential at the center position, but having Oluwatimi at center would significantly help Underwood and the entire offense.

If you could only pick one, which offensive player would you like to add at each position to the 2026 roster? Let us know in the comments below!

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