Bryce Underwood may be the name receiving most of the attention in Ann Arbor, but Michigan could have another player capable of making a run at the Heisman Trophy. Jordan Marshall enters the 2026 season as one of the most overlooked stars in college football, and if the junior running back builds on what he showed last season, it may not be long before the rest of the country knows his name.
Jordan Marshall Took Over and Never Gave It Back
Marshall quietly put together an impressive 2025 campaign, rushing for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns on 150 carries while averaging 6.2 yards per carry, according to his ESPN game log. He finished only 68 yards short of becoming Michigan’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Blake Corum in 2023.
His production climbed as the season went on. From Oct. 11 through Nov. 15, Marshall ran for 638 yards and seven touchdowns on 98 carries across five games, a stretch that included four straight 100-yard nights against Washington, Michigan State, Purdue and Northwestern.
That late-season surge is what makes the Heisman conversation more than a preseason fantasy. The argument is simple: if Marshall can turn his 932-yard season into a 1,200- or 1,300-yard campaign while Michigan competes for the Big Ten and College Football Playoff, his name will become increasingly difficult for voters to ignore.
The Backfield Belongs to Him Now
Marshall did not open 2025 as Michigan’s lead back. He started the year behind Justice Haynes and took the job when Haynes needed foot surgery, then refused to give it back, posting a career-high 185 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Purdue on Nov. 1. Haynes has since moved on to Georgia Tech, leaving Marshall as the clear No. 1 in Ann Arbor…