​While PFF grades aren’t the definitive measure of a player’s worth, they do provide a useful snapshot of which Wolverines carried momentum from the previous season. Here are the 10 highest-graded returning Michigan players entering the 2026 college football season.
Michigan’s offensive line has plenty of questions heading into 2026, but Jake Guarnera isn’t among them. After taking over as the starting right guard last season, he quickly established himself as one of the better interior linemen in the Big Ten. PFF recently ranked him the No. 7 returning guard in the nation, highlighting his run-blocking and overall value metrics. There’s room to improve in pass protection, but he already looks like one of the safest bets along Michigan’s front five.
Dominic Nichols continues to feel like one of Michigan’s more underrated defenders. Despite playing fewer than 200 defensive snaps in 2025, he finished among the Wolverines’ top evaluators. His 85.2 tackling grade ranked among the team’s best, and his consistent play drew praise from coaches throughout spring practice. With Derrick Moore and T.J. Guy departed, Nichols is poised to see a significant uptick in playing time and production.
Michigan has long held Andrew Sprague in high regard, and PFF seems to share that view. Sprague recently cracked PFF’s list of the nation’s top returning offensive tackles after allowing just one sack across 383 career pass-blocking snaps. Even more notable, he graded above 70 as both a run blocker and pass blocker, a feat achieved by only a select group of Big Ten tackles. As Michigan continues to search for the best combination along the line, Sprague appears to be one of the foundational pieces.
No returning Wolverine graded better against the run than Trey Pierce. His 80.5 run-defense mark underscores why Michigan contends the interior defensive line will remain a strength, even with Rayshaun Benny, Damon Payne Jr., and Tre Williams no longer on the roster. His pass-rushing, however, left something to be desired, indicating an area for improvement. If Pierce can become more disruptive in the pocket, he could enjoy the best season of his college career.
Andrew Marsh’s freshman season now reads as remarkably productive in hindsight. After his role expanded midseason, Marsh emerged as one of the most productive receivers in the conference. From Week 6 onward, only Rutgers’ KJ Duff had more receiving yards among Big Ten receivers. Perhaps even more impressive is that Marsh ended the year with zero drops on 60 targets, an elite-level statistic for any receiver, let alone a true freshman.
Mason Curtis posted remarkably balanced grades across 2025, finishing above 74 in tackling, coverage, and run defense. His consistency across the board helped him earn a well-rounded defensive profile, illustrating his value as a versatile contributor on the field.