Three takeaways from Michigan’s spring game
Michigan got out in front of the public eye for the first time in the Kyle Whittingham era, highlighted by a Michigan legacy playing well.
Ann Arbor — The Maize team pulled of a 7-6 comeback win over the Blue team in the 40-minute long Michigan spring game on Saturday.
Starters played the 10 minute first quarter with thudding and no tackling, while the various reserves played the second, third and fourth frames led by quarterbacks Tommy Carr and Chase Herbstreit.
Quarterback Bryce Underwood played sparingly, going 3-for-9 with a couple “sacks” in the first quarter before giving way to the others. Head coach Kyle Whittingham said afterwards that he felt fine with the way Underwood played.
“He progressed all through the spring, there’s some things that may not be noticeable to the general populace but his footwork, his pocket presence, he’s improved in all areas,” Whittingham said of Underwood. “He still has work to do. He knows that and we know that. But I think he’s ahead of where he was, certainly, prior to last season. And we think he’s got a big upside and we’ve still got a lot of confidence in him. There’s no real different sentiment than when we first got in here.”
Andrew Graham
Here are three takeaways from the game, namely the period with the 2s and 3s playing, for a team that Whittingham said is on track but not where it needs to be for 2026.
Tommy Carr is QB2
Whittingham said a few weeks ago that Carr would be the backup quarterback if games began now, and that held up with his spring game reps. Carr played a lion's share of the reps and showed off a high level of athleticism that was otherwise not well known.
And he looked the part of a quarterback that has the juice to make an impact during his time at Michigan.
“Well first of all he’s got that it factor for a quarterback, that confidence, that field general mentality, the way he carries himself,” Whittingham said postgame. “He’s a football junkie. I’m in the facility at 10 at night and I walk by the quarterback room and there’s Tommy Carr watching film, all by himself in the film room. He’s completely just immersed in his development as far as trying to get better and doing everything he can to perfect his craft. And it’s really what you want to see in your quarterback.”
Carr, who primarily played for the Maize team but did play some with the Blue team, finished 21-of-30 for 143 yards with a long of 20 through the air, and showed some real ability as a runner, scrambling for 51 yards on six carries.
After his performance, Carr acknowledged the surreal nature of being in this position so soon and playing in front of a crowd at Michigan Stadium, but demurred on his spot on the depth chart and what it means.
“I just gotta come in here, do what I can,” Carr said. “Nothing changes. Gotta prepare the way I always do and play the best football I can.”
Carr’s best attribute on display on Saturday was his pocket presence, the right feel for standing in and reading out concepts while aptly dodging rushers and resetting his platform. He also has a good feel for when to escape, and did well to keep his eyes downfield while doing so.
He might’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger on some potential throws that were there while scrambling, but deferring to taking scrambles that were there or throwing the ball away isn’t a bad alternative. And he consistently avoided negative plays and turnover-worthy throws, with two sacks taken.
The freshman quarterback is a Michigan legacy — if the word even suffices for the grandson of national championship-winning head coach — and shoulders the weight of a massive Wolverine football legacy.
But on Saturday on the field, Carr played free and showed much of the promise that had Whittingham declaring the true freshman the prohibitive QB2.
“And he’s a leader by nature and by virtue of the position you better be a leader at the quarterback spot,” Whittingham said. “And I don’t wanna get too far ahead of ourselves, because he’s still got work to do, it’s just been a very pleasant surprise. If you said ‘Who’s been the most pleasant surprise in spring?’ it’s probably been him and Savion [Hiter]. Although I wouldn’t say they’re surprises, but guys looking like they have really bright futures.”
Defensive line shines
Perhaps a question mark entering the spring, Michigan’s defensive line depth, both on the interior and at the edge spots, showed up on Saturday.
Right now, Whittingham feels like defensive line depth is one of Michigan’s best attributes, and said he feels good about 10 different guys playing up front.
“But that appears to be our strongest suit as far as depth goes,” Whittingham said. “And 10 bodies ready to play. If you can be two-and-a-half deep on the front on defense, that’s a real luxury for ya.”
Michigan seems apt to play various combinations of Enow Etta, Jonah Lea’ea, Travis Moten, Trey Pierce and Deyvid Palepale on the interior with John Henry Daley, Cam Brandt, Lugard Edokpayi, Nate Marshall and Dominic Nichols filling out the edge group. Sophomore interior lineman Bobby Kanka made a number of good plays on Saturday, too.
Travis Moten finished with a pair of sacks to lead the Maize team to four total, with Nate Marshall and Adam Bazzi each adding one. Jonah Lea’ea got one for the Blue team.
In the first period when the starters were still playing, Enow Etta had a nice rep chasing Underwood to the perimeter, keeping pace with the athletic quarterback. Bobby Kanka made arguably the play of the day, stonewalling a run at the goal line on 4th and 1 for the Blue team on a play that drew a visceral reaction from the Michigan Stadium crowd.
After the game, Whittingham rattled through his thoughts on various players in the edge rushing room.
“Dom Nichols, he’s coming into his own,” Whittingham said. “He’s a force out there. He’s 6-foot-4-plus and 260 pounds and really has a great first step and pass rushing skills. He’s a guy that I think has a chance to be all Big Ten before he’s finished here, I think he’s that good. It’s up to him how good he can be.”
He continued, noting Brandt had made some physical changes in the offseason.
“Nate Marshall showed progress. Who else, Cam Brandt. Cam Brandt had a really nice spring. He was consistent for us all spring long. Dropped a few pounds and really helped his game. He lost five or 10 pounds, it gave him more quickness and a little more burst off the edge.”
Whittingham also spoke highly of 6-foot-7, 250 pound junior Lugard Edokpayi, who spoke with reporters after the scrimmage.
Epokpayi said there’s been a heightened emphasis in the room of getting to the quarterback and affecting plays however they can. The coaching staff has preached playing with violence and dominating physically.
“In terms of having the energy, having the juice, if the ball can't get to the DBs and they don't have to cover for so long,” Edokpayi said.
Asked if the defensive line could be a strength for Michigan, he had a ready answer.
"Yes sir, I think we are,” Epokpayi said.
Savion Hiter excites in debut
He’s one of the top prospects signed to Michigan in the 2026 class and likely to be playing early at running back. And after Saturday’s brief glimpse, it’s easy to see why that’s all true about Savion Hiter.
Oh, and since arriving in Ann Arbor, Hiter said he’s gone from 197 pounds to 218.
“I thought Savion Hiter really showed that he’s an explosive back,” Whittingham said. “He didn’t really get loose out in the open but he’s a powerful back that’s going to be a big factor for us this fall.”
Physicality also showed up in his play Saturday, bowling over defenders and playing with a real physical streak. That’s something he said he wanted to establish while discussing his performance postgame. He also noticed the difference in college game speed versus his previous competition.
“The game speed is way different,” Hiter said. “I just need to catch up to that and do my best.”
Hiter finished with 10 carries for 44 yards on the day, and seems poised to be a ready option to spell Jordan Marshall come fall.
And Hiter isn’t taking that opportunity lightly, already critiquing how he can do better when that opportunity comes.
“Just to play my game, I just have to go in there with a different mindset,” Hiter said.
