Kyle Whittingham took the podium Monday for his second press conference of fall camp, and with the Wolverines now a week into practice, real progress is starting to show across multiple areas of the roster. From the pace of the offensive install to a crowded position battle up front, here are the four most interesting things Whittingham said heading into Week 2 of preparation for the 2026 season.
1. Michigan’s Offense Is “Right on Schedule”
Five practices into fall camp, Whittingham said the offense is coming along right on schedule as far as installation and execution. He specifically pointed to the passing game looking noticeably cleaner than it did at any point during spring ball, calling it a clear positive sign. With offensive coordinator Jason Beck continuing to install his scheme in Ann Arbor, hearing Whittingham describe the offense as on track is an encouraging early signal, even as he acknowledged there are still things the staff wants to see cleaned up.
Whittingham also noted that quarterback Bryce Underwood continues to make progress, aided in part by improved pass protection up front. If Underwood is going to have the breakout season many are projecting for him in 2026, a cleaner pocket behind an improving offensive line under new position coach Jim Harding will be a critical piece of that equation.
2. A Third Player Has Entered the Left Tackle Battle
Michigan’s search for its best five offensive linemen remains ongoing, and Whittingham revealed that the competition at left tackle has grown more crowded than previously known. According to Whittingham, Andrew Babalola has been doing a nice job at the position, while Evan Link has also been taking reps there, along with Blake Frazier meaning all three players are now factoring into the rotation at left tackle.
Babalola and Frazier had already been viewed as the top two candidates for the job, but Link’s re-emergence adds a notable twist. Link served as Michigan’s starting left tackle last season before a season-ending injury opened the door for Frazier to close out the year as the starter. With all three now taking meaningful reps, it appears Whittingham and Harding plan to continue mixing personnel until a clear top five along the offensive line separates itself.
3. JJ Buchanan Is Turning Heads, and a Fifth or Sixth Receiver Is Emerging
Whittingham didn’t hold back when discussing wide receiver JJ Buchanan, describing him as a special talent who is at times unguardable in practice. He praised Buchanan’s ability to win contested, 50-50 catch situations down the field, calling him as good as any receiver he’s been around at that skill specifically. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Whittingham highlighted Buchanan’s complete skill set — size, speed, leaping ability, toughness and willingness to block — as traits that make him a complete receiver in every phase of the position.
Beyond Buchanan, Whittingham also pointed to Channing Goodwin as another receiver who has emerged as part of the rotation mix. Whittingham has consistently said he wants around seven receivers he trusts to be in the game plan, and he indicated Michigan currently has roughly five to five-and-a-half players who’ve reached that level of trust. With Andrew Marsh and Buchanan already established as the top two options, having Goodwin push for a rotational role would give Bryce Underwood a deeper group of trusted targets than Michigan has had in recent seasons assuming Goodwin can clean up the drops that were an issue for him a season ago.
4. Rod Moore and John Henry Daley Are Fully Healthy
Perhaps the most important update of the day concerned the health of two of Michigan’s top defensive players. Whittingham confirmed that both safety Rod Moore and edge rusher John Henry Daley are completely healthy and fully cleared for all activity. He clarified that any pitch counts currently in place for the two veterans are a precautionary decision made by the coaching staff, not a reflection of any physical limitation.
That update helps clear up some ambiguity from earlier in the week, when defensive coordinator Jay Hill had mentioned pitch counts for both players without fully explaining the reasoning behind them. According to Whittingham, the cautious approach is meant to prevent a setback from bringing key players back too quickly, rather than any indication that either player isn’t ready to contribute. Based on how their recoveries are progressing, both Moore and Daley appear on track to start Week 1 against Western Michigan.
Final Thoughts
Kyle Whittingham’s second fall camp press conference offered real insight into where Michigan stands heading into the heart of preseason preparation. Between an offense that’s tracking on schedule, a left tackle competition that just got more crowded, JJ Buchanan’s continued ascension as a difference-making receiver, and clean bills of health for two key defensive stars, the Wolverines appear to be checking plenty of boxes just one week into camp. How these storylines develop over the next several weeks will go a long way toward shaping Michigan’s outlook as the 2026 season approaches.
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