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Michigan has a crucial piece on offense returning in 2026 in running back Jordan Marshall. He finished last season with four games rushing for more than 100 yards, and totaled 932 yards and 10 touchdowns despite having an injury at the end of the season. If he can stay healthy, the combination of him and freshman Savion Hiter will be pretty impressive.
Marshall joined Jon Jansen on In The Trenches this week to discuss his time with the program and what he’s expecting from his junior year.
On the running back room this season
According to Marshall, the running back position is in a good place. “Fast, strong, rugged is the keyword we use all the time. That involves being violent, running hard, and being a physical bunch of guys.” The position has a lot of depth again in 2026, and Marshall thinks the group will show what it’s about by how it plays.
On leadership and his status as a veteran player
Marshall says his leadership this season is starting off the field. On a positive note, he says a lot of the younger guys are eager to learn. With that, he understands he needs to be careful and aware of what he says. He really wants to see how good they are when they play this season.
On practicing for the Big Ten
Marshall said one of the main things he’s trying to help teach some of the new players is how to stay healthy. That’s on top of finishing runs during practice. He said there’s a balance between working hard and taking care of your body, and when something starts hurting, he said you need to address it so you’re available consistently.
On missing the bowl game and his health status
Marshall tried to play in the bowl game in the week leading up to it, but he made the decision to sit out since it wasn’t healed all the way. His goal is to make sure he’s got the right treatment and nutrition so he can get back to form by the fall.
On what he’s working on in the offseason
Marshall is focusing on his skills in the pass protection game: “I don’t want my quarterback getting hit at all.” The position is focusing on taking pride in pass protection, saying, “It’s sometimes more exciting to hit somebody in pass pro than to score a touchdown.” He hopes to take that next step in his game this fall.
On the coaching staff
Running back coach Tony Alford is back, but there are new coaches at almost every other position. Marshall said he wants to be able to go over to his coaches come the fall and talk about things happening in the game. Right now, his focus is on learning to build trust and communicate with everyone. While he’s expecting to hear from his coaches, Marshall also wants to have a team where everyone is talking to each other about how to get better.
On the offensive line heading into 2026
Marshall acknowledged the more snaps you have with a group, the greater understanding you’ll have in games. He said the offensive line is extremely connected and that they’ve been more consistent the first few weeks of spring ball.
Specifically, he mentioned Andrew Sprague, Jake Guarnera and Blake Frazier, and how they’ll be crucial to the offense this fall. Along with those three, he mentioned Brady Norton and Nathan Efobi, as well as Avery Gach, Marky Wallbridge and Andrew Babalola as some of the young guys that can make an impact.
On QB Bryce Underwood
For all the fans questioning the lack of a dedicated quarterbacks coach last year, you’ll be encouraged to hear what Marshall had to say here. Marshall said that quarterback Bryce Underwood is working on improving his overall communication, and the fact Underwood now has a dedicated position coach has helped with his development. Marshall also believes Underwood will win the Heisman one day. “(The coaches are) going to let Bryce be Bryce this year,” Marshall said.
On Michigan’s defense
Marshall says the defensive line and the secondary are really good. He said the linebackers are good, too, but it is a younger group this year. Marshall also said the team is playing as one and building each other up, and that even though he’s an offensive player, he has a deep connection with the guys on defense and is excited to have that unity on the team.
On Kyle Whittingham
Marshall says his new head coach wants everyone to be the best they can be and wants to bring a national championship back to Ann Arbor. Marshall said that he’s seen a lot of progress in just three months and that he’s excited to see what happens as time goes on.
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