ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Jordan Marshall believes alignment, discipline, and trust are setting the tone for a new era with the Michigan Wolverines football.
Savion Hiter
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Marshall praised rising freshman Savion Hiter while emphasizing a renewed focus on discipline within the Wolverines football program.
Marshall said the freshman running back is an emerging talent who has impressed early in spring practices.
“He’s a great kid, comes from a great family,” Marshall said. “He wants to learn and listens when we ask him to do something. That willingness to learn is what you need to be a good player.”
Marshall said Hiter has shown maturity by taking coaching from everyone in the running back room, not just veteran players.
“I’m excited to see him out there on Saturdays and in the spring game,” Marshall said. “He’s next level.”
New coaching
Beyond individual development, Marshall pointed to discipline as a key theme under the new coaching approach.
“Being on time — you need to be 10 minutes early to everything,” Marshall said. “That’s something I really like.”
He added that accountability extends to academics, reinforcing the program’s “student-athlete” identity.
“If you’re not at class, you’re not practicing,” Marshall said. “You come to Michigan to be both.”
Marshall said those standards are helping build trust across the roster, something he believes will translate directly to performance on the field.
“If I can trust you to do things you don’t want to do, like going to class, then I can trust you in the fourth quarter with a minute left,” Marshall said.
Michigan continues spring practices as it prepares for its annual Spring Game on April 18.
Tony Alford
Marshall said adversity during the offseason helped strengthen his bond with running backs coach Tony Alford as the Wolverines navigate a period of transition.
Marshall described their relationship as one that deepened through uncertainty and limited communication at times.
“Through hard times and changes, you really find out about people,” Marshall said. “That relationship either gets stronger or weaker, and for me and coach Alford, it got stronger.”
He acknowledged there were moments of frustration as he tried to process changes within the program, but credited Alford for pushing him to stay engaged.
“I sometimes block things out and don’t want to talk,” Marshall said. “But he demands that I communicate with him.”
Marshall emphasized that Alford’s role goes beyond coaching, calling him a mentor and a trusted figure in his life.
“He treats me like one of his sons,” Marshall said. “That’s somebody I can lean on.”
The relationship also includes open dialogue, with Marshall noting that Alford is receptive to feedback, something he believes reflects a broader cultural shift within the program.
“He’s willing to hear feedback from me, and that shows up across the whole staff,” Marshall said. “They’re demanding the best out of us, but also listening.”
Marshall said that the balance between accountability and communication has helped unify the team as it prepares for the upcoming season.
Running back depth
A key part of Michigan’s offensive outlook is depth at running back.
Marshall said the group is strong enough that multiple players could contribute significantly, even in two-back formations.
“There’s only one ball, but everybody should be ready,” Marshall said. “From the starter to the seventh guy, you should be able to put anybody out there, and they go produce.”
Marshall credited Alford for strengthening their relationship during the program’s transition, describing him as both a mentor and a father figure.
“That relationship got stronger,” Marshall said. “He demands the best out of me, but also listens.”
Offensive line
Marshall said trust and continuity along the offensive line are fueling his confidence as Michigan continues spring practice.
Marshall, expected to play a leading role in the Wolverines’ backfield, said familiarity with the offensive line has been key, even as some players shift positions.
“I trust them,” Marshall said. “We’ve had a lot of snaps together, so you start to understand how they play and where they’re going to be.”
That cohesion, he said, allows him to anticipate running lanes and react instinctively during plays.
“Over time, you just build that trust,” Marshall said. “I know you’re going to do your job, and I’m going to do mine.”
Marshall added that spring practices are critical for strengthening that chemistry across the offense, including with receivers.
“This is the time where you build that trust, working day in and day out,” Marshall said.
He also hinted at an expanded role for two-running-back formations in the offense, though he declined to offer specifics.
“You guys will just have to see,” Marshall said with a smile.
Marshall credited offensive coordinator Jason Beck for tailoring the scheme to the team’s personnel, including building on concepts from last season, such as “two-back sets.”
“I think it’s going to be a big part of our offense,” Marshall said of the two-back sets.
Beyond the backfield, Marshall expressed optimism about a young but dynamic group of receivers, noting their ability to create plays and support the run game.
“They all want to go make plays, and they all can,” Marshall said.
Marshall said the overall offensive growth early in spring has been encouraging, particularly given the limited time together.
“It’s exciting to see how that room has already taken off,” Marshall said. “We’re only a week and a half into spring ball.”
Jason Beck
Marshall said the evolving system under Beck is designed to better balance the Wolverines’ attack.
Beck, who has overseen one of the nation’s top rushing offenses in recent seasons, is installing concepts that Marshall said play directly to Michigan’s strengths while adding flexibility.
“It really plays to our strengths,” Marshall said. “We ran the ball a lot last year, but now we can be more 50-50.”
That balance could ease the physical toll on the running game after Michigan frequently faced stacked defensive fronts.
“We were running into eight-and nine-man boxes,” Marshall said. “That can be challenging and hard on your body over time.”
Marshall emphasized that his focus remains on winning, regardless of how touches are distributed in the offense.
“It doesn’t matter if we run the ball 20 times or five times,” Marshall said. “Whatever I can do to help this team win is what I want to do.”
He added that the offense is blending new concepts with familiar elements from last season, with coaches open to player feedback during the transition.
“It’s exciting to see all the new things we’ve installed, but also what we’ve brought along from last year,” Marshall said.
Marshall again pointed to the receiving corps as a key factor in the offense’s potential, highlighting its playmaking ability and leadership.
“That room is revamped,” Marshall said. “They can go make plays, and they want to make plays.”
As spring practice continues, Marshall said the Wolverines are focused on development ahead of the spring game, where the new-look offense will be on display.
“This is what spring ball is about, getting better as a team,” Marshall said. “Then everyone gets to see how explosive this offense can be.”
Bryce Underwood
Marshall said the offense is evolving this spring with a system built around its personnel rather than a complete overhaul.
Asked about changes to the playbook, Marshall said the biggest difference is how the scheme fits the team’s strengths, particularly at quarterback.
“It plays to our strengths,” Marshall said. “We want to play fast, we want to play physical, but also be able to air the ball out more.”
Marshall expressed strong confidence in quarterback Bryce Underwood, predicting a standout future as he develops within the system.
“He’s going to be better,” Marshall said. “He’s getting coached hard, we’re demanding the best out of him, and he’s playing with a chip on his shoulder.”
Marshall added that the offense is designed to showcase Underwood’s versatility while allowing playmakers across the unit to contribute.
“It lets him be dynamic and really show who he is,” Marshall said.
Beyond the scheme, Marshall pointed to a noticeable shift in practice intensity under the new staff.
“Practice is high tempo,” Marshall said. “We’re only out there about two hours, but we don’t stop moving.”
He said the faster pace and emphasis on conditioning are already making a difference as the team prepares for game situations.
“We’re not standing around, we’re moving 24/7,” Marshall said. “That’s going to put us in position in the fourth quarter when the other team is tired.”
Marshall said Underwood has embraced heightened expectations and is emerging as a vocal leader for Michigan this spring.
Marshall described Underwood as a “born leader” whose motivation is rooted in restoring Michigan to the top of college football.
“He loves this place,” Marshall said. “We all want to put Michigan back at the top, and that’s what drives him.”
According to Marshall, Underwood has placed significant demands on himself while working to elevate his performance.
“He’s demanding himself to be the best,” Marshall said. “Sometimes he puts too much pressure on himself, but that’s the expectation here.”
Marshall said those expectations include competing for championships and meeting the program’s standard of winning every game.
“That’s the pressure you want to have,” Marshall said.
He added that Underwood’s growth is evident in his increased communication and accountability, both on and off the field.
“He’s being more vocal, talking to receivers after plays, talking to me after plays,” Marshall said. “He’s asking for feedback and taking it from players and coaches.”
Marshall said that willingness to accept input and lead by example has helped unify the offense during spring practices.
“We’re all aligned and coming together to be better,” Marshall said.
Coaching differences
Marshall said one of the biggest changes within the Wolverines football program this spring is a collaborative approach between players and coaches.
He pointed to open communication as a defining trait of the new staff, noting that coaches have actively sought players’ input on scheme and execution.
“They’ve asked me how I would identify things at the line, what plays I like to run, what concepts we like,” Marshall said. “It’s not even about whether they put it in — it’s the willingness to listen.”
That transparency, he said, has helped create a unified environment across all levels of the program.
“Everybody in this building has been aligned,” Marshall said. “Coaching staff, players, recruiting — everyone is chasing the same goal.”
Marshall emphasized that alignment extends beyond the field, including support staff such as nutrition and equipment teams.
“Everybody’s checking with each other, making sure we’re all one, so we can go attack,” Marshall said.
After finishing 9-3 last season, Marshall believes improved cohesion could elevate Michigan’s performance moving forward.
“We weren’t always as aligned as we could have been,” he said. “So what happens when we are?”
With spring practice underway, Marshall said he is eager to see how that unity translates into development through the offseason and into the fall.
“It’s going to be exciting,” Marshall said.