Michigan football has lost a lot of talent in the past two years after winning the national championship following the 2023 season. With 13 players being drafted in the 2024 NFL draft and another seven in the 2025 draft, the Wolverines certainly were loaded with skillful players.
The question now, however, is how much talent is there currently in Ann Arbor?
The maize and blue have a lot of players returning from last year’s squad, as Michigan is ranked No. 29 in returning talent according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. Even though there are many top-tier recruits who will be taking the field (about eight on both offense and defense — and that’s not even counting three-stars who have shined, like Rod Moore or TJ Guy) the Wolverines are looked as something of a good, but not great team entering 2025.
However, if Michigan gets big production from one player in particular, it wouldn’t just propel the Wolverines into a solid year, but could also allow him to potentially leave early.
One offensive player who could make a big jump this year
The maize and blue got a big transfer portal commitment from former five-star running back Justice Haynes, who started his career at Alabama. He didn’t get much run in his freshman season, but saw more time in his sophomore campaign — though he was still the third running option behind quarterback Jalen Milroe and tailback compatriot Jam Miller.
In the April spring game, his first look in a Michigan uniform, Haynes shined, and is poised to either start, or split carries with second-year running back Jordan Marshall — a former four-star out of Cincinnati who looked excellent against Haynes’ former team in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
PFF put together a list of 10 players who are ‘wild cards’ that could rise up 2026 NFL draft boards. Haynes was included as one of the 10.
RB Justice Haynes, Michigan
Haynes…
Source link : https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/wolverines/football/2025/05/16/can-michigan-football-rb-justice-haynes-shine-in-2025-season-for-2026-nfl-draft/83670278007/
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Publish date : 2025-05-16 15:49:00
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