Fall Camp & Depth Chart PREDICTIONS? / Michigan Wolverines LIVE 262

Michigan Wolverines LIVE 262 – Fall Camp & Depth Chart Predictions Hosts: John D’Adamo & TJ Ronin | MichiganVOCFB Focus: Fall Camp updates + starting roster/depth chart projections (early camp) Housekeeping / Show Open 00:01:41 – “Fall Camp Palooza” – back with new thumbnail. Sponsored by FanDuel. Call-in show Thursday moved to 6 p.m. ET (Lions preseason conflict at 7). Johnny Olden doesn’t know yet. Ready for real football; offseason chatter (rivalry comments, etc.) has worn thin. ~4 weeks until season. Ernest Hausman / 5-for-5 Talk 00:12:46 – Super chat from Ryan Hall on Hausman (linebacker) possibly returning. Hosts heard the rumor ~1 week earlier but were told to lay low. Ballast report (Sunday) and Bryce update (today – source said it was news to him) discussed. TJ: Plausible someone in the program (or periphery) kicked the tires after the 5-for-5 eligibility news, especially given Michigan’s known interest in clarity on the rule. Not everyone on staff necessarily knows every contact. Not serious enough yet for widespread knowledge among coaches/players. Still time before season. Monitor. On-field upside if it happened: Rod Moore + Hausman + John Henry Daly would be strong. Some fans still sour on how he left as a captain. Linebacker room already showing better play than expected (more on that below) – possible reason for pause on external additions. Overall Camp Vibe / Offense Philosophy 00:21:52 onward – Fall camp underway. Rejuvenated feel post-Sherrone Moore era. Kyle Whittingham (recent comments this week + day one): This will be a run-heavy / run-first team. Expect heavy run early (especially first couple games) while the OL sorts itself and the pass game continues developing. Jason Beck has complimented the run game. Projection: 65/35 or even 70/30 run/pass until OL consistency arrives. Three-headed backfield helps. Passing attack has shown some movement, but routes need time to develop amid OL shuffling and DL pressure in practice. Wide Receivers JJ Buchanan – Called “automatic.” Going up and getting the ball is a natural trait Marsh doesn’t fully share. Some talk he might currently be the best receiver in the room (not a slight on Andrew Marsh). Both are high-end. Will help free Marsh. Travis Johnson (true freshman, 6-2, ~195) – Impressing early, can go get it. Film was elite in recruiting. Hosts called him early as a potential elevator of the offense. Currently projected ahead of Celestino Moa by some (51-49 lean TJ’s way), though Moa is the more natural slot and media still has him high. Room is deep: Moa, French, etc. also pushing. Versatility will be a theme – ability to move guys around makes the offense harder to read. Offensive Line Left tackle three-way (elevated from two-way): Andrew Babalola (“Babs”), Blake Frazier, Evan Link. Link has taken snaps; publicly in the mix. Hosts do not expect Link to win it. Babs is TJ’s guy; overall lean is two-man battle between Babalola and Frazier. Center: Jake Granera – “old reliable,” lock, the constant. Right tackle: Andrew Sprague – very likely starter (and TJ essentially locks it in early). Potential mid-season moves inside still possible. Guards: Left – Evan Link / Nathan Fobi battle. Right – Brady Norton / Nathan Fobi. Frazier has not been trained inside yet (Whittingham public comment). Can change quickly. Early locks (hosts): Granera (C) + Sprague (RT). Musical chairs possible first 3–4 weeks (classic Harbaugh/Moore pattern) to find best five. Savion Hyder – Continues to look impressive (no surprise). Quarterback / Tight End / Fullback Bryce Underwood – Improvement noted (decision-making, trusting the pocket). Degree unknown (no eyes on practice). Working with Jordan Palmer + private coaches + now Jason Beck / Coy Detmer Jr. Feels like a “restart” of his freshman year with a real system, real OL coaching, and better weapons. Hosts emphasize how much better the setup is vs. last year. Tight end: Zach Marshall (“Zach the Mac”) getting almost all the press/attention. Appears locked as starter. Hogan Hansen quiet. Two-TE sets will still exist; split TBD (60/40?). Fullback: Jalen Hoffman mentioned; Eli Owens interesting. Defense (Camp Standouts + Projections) Edge: John Henry Daly (standout flashes) + Cam Brandt (high-floor, senior). TJ prefers Daly + Dominic Nichols or ideally Daly + Nate Marshall (pass-rush impact). Brandt would have been a lock under Harbaugh. Split possible (Brandt early downs / Marshall pass-rush). DT: Currently leaning Pierce + Enoetta, but not locked deep into the year. Jonah Lea (Utah transfer) fits 3-tech rush role and should get snaps. Alistair Vallejo (“Mason Graham” nickname from high school film similarities) is a 2027 problem / future starter – needs a year (though Mason Graham played early). Staff has never had this much talent; they know how to use it. Linebackers (big camp story): Nathaniel Staling and Chase Taylor have earned starting spots. Staling especially – TJ was a non-believer, now fully converted by the volume/consistency of positive buzz from credible sources. Troy Bowles as the third (4-3). Experience matters in the new scheme. Room better than expected – one reason Hausman interest may have cooled. Corner: Jair (sturdy CB1 outside). Smith-Snowden / Zeke Berry rotating at CB2/nickel. Versatility theme again – hard for offenses to get a read. Safety: Rod Moore (SS) + Chris Bracey (FS). Mason Curtis third. Taylor Tatum off the chart (RIP). Special Teams Kicker: Trey Bukowski (Pitt transfer, arrived with long-snapper Nico Crawford). Very accurate under 50 (5/5 from 20-29, 9/9 from 30-39, 6/9 from 40-49). No kicks beyond 50 in the data shown – distance is the question mark. Punter: Cam Brown (not Hollenbeck). More consistent profile; average was solid (~43.8). Field position matters in the Big Ten – hosts excited about the change. Hollenbeck still gets a Michigan degree. Returns: Debate. TJ wants Celestino Moa (and accepts Hyder). John leans Moa in the mix + Smith-Snowden + occasional Marsh (especially big moments / punt). Preference is not to risk Marsh on both kick and punt returns given his receiving role. Multiple speedy options now exist. Travis Johnson has hit 22 mph (same as Haynes/Hyder top gear – acceleration is the differentiator). Starting Roster Predictions (Hosts’ Early Camp Call) They took a viewer request and projected starters while it’s still early (will revisit). Offense highlights: LT: Babalola or Frazier (lean Babalola for TJ) LG: Fobi lean C: Granera (lock) RG: Norton lean (or Fobi) RT: Sprague (lock) TE: Zach Marshall WR: Buchanan + Marsh as the clear top two; Travis Johnson pushing hard for the third/rotation RB: Three-headed (details not fully locked in the notes section) FB: Hoffman Defense highlights: Edge: Daly + Brandt (or Nichols/Marshall) DT: Pierce + Enoetta (Lea rising) LB: Staling + Taylor (+ Bowles) CB: Jair + rotating Smith-Snowden/Berry S: Rod Moore + Chris Bracey ST: Bukowski (K), Cam Brown (P) Closing Notes / Other Coaching staff (Whittingham group) has never had this level of talent – they’re still evaluating. Track record of doing more with less creates optimism. Developers. Preseason NFL talk (Kyler Murray named Vikings starter over JJ McCarthy early) – hosts find the timing odd / potentially premeditated. Prefer they at least let them battle in one real preseason game. McCarthy still determines his own destiny. Next: Call-in Thursday 6 p.m., possible Mark Rogers guest call-in, regular Tuesday show + post-game Saturdays. Go Blue. Football is almost here. Key Themes for Notes/Clips: Run-first identity under Whittingham/Beck early. WR room depth and “go-get-it” traits (Buchanan/Johnson). OL still sorting (Granera/Sprague locks, LT/guards open). LB room surprise positive (Staling conversion story). Versatility on both sides of the ball. Special teams upgrades (consistent punter + accurate kicker under 50). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.