Is this Michigan Football edge rusher ready for a bigger role in 2026?
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During the last two seasons, it was clear the Michigan Wolverines lacked two key traits on both sides of the football that were a major emphasis during the Jim Harbaugh era: physicality and toughness. The good news for fans is new head coach Kyle Whittingham is known for both of those things. There is good talent on both sides of the ball, but the defense especially presents a lot of opportunity for success. What role does sophomore defensive end Nate Marshall have in that scheme?
The story so far
Marshall was a four-star recruit and a top 50 player in the entire class. Once committed to the Wolverines, Marshall actually decommitted and then committed to Auburn. However, before the recruiting cycle was over, Marshall flipped back over to Michigan and signed in Dec. 2024. It was an incredibly frustrating season up until the final week when Michigan pulled up off a miraculous upset at Ohio State. The vibes were high in the program at the time of Marshall’s commitment.
The 2025 season was Marshall’s first with the program, and like most true freshmen, he didn’t see a lot of meaningful playing time. However, he did see the field more than most players with his experience level. Marshall played in 11 games and compiled six total tackles. That experience was extremely valuable in terms of preparing him for a bigger role moving forward.
Outlook for 2026
Michigan fans had very high expectations for Marshall when he committed to the program, and they still do. He was one of the best edge recruits in the entire 2025 class and one of the best recruits in general. He is one of the best young players the Wolverines have, and we are going to hear his name called a lot more this season.
At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, Marshall certainly has the build to be an elite player, but will likely start the season as a backup behind guys like John Henry Daley, Cam Brandt and Dominic Nichols. That doesn’t mean Marshall isn’t going to have an important role, as he should see the field early and often at the start of the season.
My best guess is Marshall will probably stay in that reserve role for most of this season before having an even bigger role in 2027. The time is going to come for him, it’s just a matter of when. Hopefully it’s sooner rather than later.
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