Unsung heroes from Michigan Football’s 2025 season

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The 2025 season will be officially in the books for Michigan after the Citrus Bowl next week. The Wolverines finished 9-3 in the regular season before the athletic department fired Sherrone Moore. Since the news, we’ve learned more about the status of the football program and the culture within the locker room.

In hindsight, it’s a wonder the Wolverines finished the season and fought to hold on in so many close games. But despite all going on behind the scenes, Michigan still had some impressive and gritty victories. It’s easy to focus on some of the bigger names that played a big role in those games this season, but today, we want to highlight some of this season’s unsung heroes.

TE Zack Marshall

Much of the focus in the receiving game was focused on Andrew Marsh and Donaven McCulley, but tight end Zack Marshall also played a good role when guys like Marlin Klein and Hogan Hansen were out with injury. He compiled 15 catches for 195 yards, including five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in the win against the Washington Huskies in October.

DL Rayshaun Benny

Rayshaun Benny didn’t have the stat line you’d necessarily hope for, but he still had a solid performance throughout the season. He’s the second-highest graded player on Michigan’s defense and was great when it came to rush defense. He ended the season with 31 tackles, three tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and two quarterback hits.

OL Andrew Sprague

Right tackle Andrew Sprague went from playing 73 snaps in 2024 to 740 snaps in 2025. He’s not getting nearly enough attention for his contributions on Michigan’s offensive line. He helped the team rush for more than 2,500 yards this season, while starting three different running backs because of injuries. He also helped give Bryce Underwood time to throw, with Underwood throwing for 2,229 yards. Going into his third year in Ann Arbor, Sprague is only going to get better.

LB Chase Taylor

Freshman linebacker Chase Taylor had an impressive play on special teams against Maryland when he recovered a surprise onside kick. This was especially impressive given Michigan’s struggles on special teams throughout the season. He’s Michigan’s highest graded player on special teams, according to PFF, and while he wasn’t the most consistent on defense, having a young player who’s great in coverage on special teams is important.

Safety TJ Metcalf

Safety TJ Metcalf was on the field for 655 snaps, the the most out of any defender. For a team with some eyebrow-raising substitutions, he did a nice job for being on the field for so many snaps. He ended the year with 51 tackles, one interception and three pass deflections. He gave up a few big plays and did allow several catches, but he deserves some credit for how many snaps he played and his ability to learn Wink Martindale’s system.

Position Coaches

Honestly, the more you read about the state of the football program, it seems more impressive this team finished with nine wins. Until we learn otherwise, it seems fitting to credit Michigan’s position coaches for helping the players deal with some inconsistencies in leadership. Michigan will have a tough test against Texas on New Year’s Eve and we’ll see what the Wolverines are able to manage in that one.

Who are your unsung heroes this season? Let us know in the comments below!

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