Sherrone Moore pinpoints Michigan players standing out in fall camp, including some true freshmen

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore was asked in his fall camp press conference to identify players that have surprised him. While he hasn’t been shocked by most of the developments, he was excited to discuss players besides those with a lot of college experience who are standing out and could earn playing time this fall.

That started at linebacker with sophomore Cole Sullivan, who Moore said at Big Ten Media Days could “take the college football world by storm.”

“Cole Sullivan is a guy that continues to climb, continues to make an impact,” Moore said Tuesday. “We feel really good about that linebacker room from [senior] Ernie [Hausmann], [senior] Jaishawn [Barham], [senior] Jimmy [Rolder] and Cole. He’s probably a guy that people weren’t talking about — he’s a younger guy — but he’s a guy that has really stood out. He’s very multiple, doing different things.

“In that room again, you’ve got a guy like [freshman] Chase Taylor, who just keeps champing at the bit, champing at the bit to be better and better and better. From a defensive perspective, that guy specifically — Cole — jumps out at me.

“We all know about the defensive front and what those guys have done, but Cole, really, is a guy that’s jumped out.”

The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Sullivan played in 12 games and logged the sixth-most special teams snaps on the team last season, but now he may be ready to have more of an impact on defense.

In the secondary, meanwhile, senior Jaden Mangham continues to draw praise for what he’s done. He missed all but one game with an injury last season, following his transfer from Michigan State. Notching 4 interceptions in 2023, Mangham was named honorable mention All-Big Ten.

“Jaden Mangham is a guy that’s not a surprise, but a guy that’s taken the next step and is pushing that safety room,” the Michigan coach said. “We’ve talked about [junior] TJ Metcalf, [junior] Brandyn Hillman and [sophomore] Mason Curtis, but Jaden is a guy that’s really taken the next steps on defense to show that capability. And we love all those guys, but the more, the better.”

Sophomore cornerback Jo’Ziah Edmond has recorded 2 pick-sixes during Michigan’s fall camp, and freshman Shamari Earls is one who could play early.

“At corner, Jo’Ziah Edmond, Shamari Earls, the true freshman, he’s flashing and done some really good things,” Moore said.

Last week, Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito said the Wolverines’ trio of freshman offensive linemen are going to be great, pointing to tackles Andrew Babalola and Ty Haywood and guard Avery Gach. The development of the offensive line as a whole was someting Moore was fired up to talk about.

“Big shout out to [position coach] Grant Newsome and what he’s done with that group. And [assistant offensive line] Coach [Nick] Gilbert and [assistant offensive line coach John Morookian and [senior assistant offensive line] Coach [Juan] Castillo — they’ve invested a lot of time into that group to be really good. They know the vision, they know what I want in that O-line, and they know how we should run it as an offensive line, and they’ve imprinted that in that group.”

Michigan’s defensive line is expected to be one of the best in the nation, but the offensive line — which struggled mightily last season — has been notching some wins.

“They’ve become closer this offseason, and they’ve worked really, really hard,” Moore continued. “And they’re pushing that D-line now. There are days that the O-line wins. And that’s what you want; you want that good back and forth. That whole group has been great.”

The quarterbacks have been “improved,” Moore added, and the “running back room has been good,” saying that ball-carriers Micah Ka’apana and Bryson Kuzdzal are standing out. Even higher praise came for the wide receivers.

“Receivers — really electric group,” Moore said. “I feel really good about this group. [Wide receivers] Coach [Ron] Bellamy, [assistant wide receivers] Coach [Erik] ‘Soup’ Campbell have done a great job. And then tight ends, same thing.”

Sherrone Moore lists Michigan freshmen who have stood out

Later in the press conference, Moore was asked which freshmen have been having good fall camps.

He started with EDGE Nate Marshall, who enrolled this summer. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Illinois native was a top-100 overall recruit in the 2025 class, flipping from Auburn on signing day.

“Nate Marshall on the defensive line, he’s got some freakish pass-rush ability,” Moore said. “I feel really good about him.”

Taylor at linebacker “keeps climbing,” Moore added.

“Shamari Earls is another guy [at cornerback]. [Cornerback] Jayden Sanders is another guy that really flashes and does a lot of great things. 

An “obvious” choice for a standout freshman is quarterback Bryce Underwood, who’s perceived as the favorite to win the starting job.

Also on offense, Babalola is in the mix to start at left tackle, battling with junior Evan Link.

“Andrew Babalola — he’s gonna push for the starting left tackle spot, and that’s a day-to-day competition with Evan,” Moore said. “And Evan’s played tremendously better, and his confidence is where you need it to be, but those two are pushing. [Sophomore] Blake Frazier is in that mix, but we’re moving him around, too, so it’s gonna be cool to see how that group rolls.”

Two Michigan freshman wide receivers who enrolled early — Jamar Browder and Andrew Marsh — will see time.

“Receiver-wise, Jamar Browder, Andrew Marsh — those guys are gonna play for us this year,” Moore noted. “They’re both dynamic athletes and players and just ahead of where they need to be and where guys usually are as a freshman. And from a talent standpoint, they’re really, really good.”