7 Michigan Football Standouts in Week Three of Fall Camp

Michigan football will take the field in two weeks, but let's find out who has positioned themselves well.

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The Michigan Wolverines will take the field in two weeks for a primetime game against Western Michigan. But the Wolverines are still going through fall camp right now and Kyle Whittingham is trying to establish depth in certain areas.

Whittingham noted that he knows who most of the starters are going to be in Week 1, but Michigan isn't going to release a depth chart. Teams, media, and fans will all learn at the same time.

However, hearing from the coaching staff, here are a few standouts from Week 3 of camp.

QB Byrce Underwood

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If Michigan is going to accomplish what it wants to this season, the Wolverines are going to need Bryce Underwood to impress. Head coach Kyle Whittingham said the same thing on Friday during his press conference with the media. He noted that if the Wolverines are in a position to make the College Football Playoff, a big reason is because of Underwood.

And Underwood is one of the standouts from this past week. Offensive coordinator Jason Beck said Underwood has had 13 out of 13 good practices, and Whittingham said the second year player has really figured out the offense and is playing at a high level.

Barring Underwood going back to his old habits when game day comes, expect a much better season with the former five-star.

WR Channing Goodwin

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In almost every availability we hear, there is a mention of Channing Goodwin. Last season, Goodwin was the fall camp superstar and that earned him a starting role in Week 1 for the Wolverines. However, drops became an issue for Goodwin and he slid down the depth chart.

But Micah Simon, Jason Beck, and Whittingham are all impressed with Goodwin and he has played himself into a rotational role in the new system.

"Channing Goodwin has really had a nice fall camp," said Whittingham. "He stepped up and is going to be in the rotation. He'll be a guy that figures in."

It's hard to imagine Goodwin starting, but the Wolverines are wanting seven or eight wide receivers they can trust. Goodwin is one of them.

TE Mason Bonner

You can't teach size and that's what the freshman tight end has. Head coach Kyle Whittingham needs Bonner to bulk up some more, but his 6'7" body will be used in the passing game this season.

Despite being a summer enrollee, Bonner has already carved out a role, and could be used as a hybrid player this season, sort of what J.J. Buchanan did a year ago for Utah. Either way, Michigan can use Bonner in the red zone for some jump ball situations.

"He's a big, good looking freshman tight end, didn't get here till June," said Whittingham. "And he's about 6'7", 235, still needs to put on some weight. But as far as the receiving skills that he has demonstrated, as good as it gets for a tight end.

"He's still got some work to do in the blocking situation. That should come with strength and added weight. But he is off to a really good start, and you're going to see him get snaps as well, as a true freshman."

Edge Carter Meadows + Tariq Boney

You don't hear much about Carter Meadows with Tariq Boney's name being with him. That was the same thing on Friday when Kyle Whittingham spoke with the media. Meadows is the five-star, but Boney has been impressive by all accounts and it sounds like he will play some this season.

"Two freshman defensive ends, Carter Meadows and Tariq Boney, really had an outstanding, or having an outstanding camp," Whittingham said. "And they're going to be involved. Now, they happen to be behind a bunch of other good defensive end guys, but they've really shown out exceptionally well."

Michigan has a deep edge room, but if the talented freshmen — especially Carter — earn playing time, it will be hard to keep them on the bench all season.

Edge Nate Marshall

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It's ironic how Nate Marshall's name wasn't mentioned all fall camp and then Jay Hill spoke about how well he has been playing of late. We learned that Dominic Nichols was out for a few days with a minor injury, which might have paved the way for Marshall to stand out.

Either way, Kyle Whittingham spoke highly of Marshall on Friday, saying he was one of the players he has been really impressed with this week.

"Let's see, Nate Marshall has really started to come into his own, another defensive end," Whittingham said on Friday.

Marshall's name was left out a lot this fall, but it's a good sign that he's coming around closer to the start of the season.

DT Bobby Kanka

One name that came up a few times during Big Ten Media Days, and before, was Bobby Kanka. The Wolverines have their three main defensive tackles but then we weren't sure who was going to step up after those three.

Both Kanka and Deyvid Palepale have emerged, and this week, defensive tackles coach Larry Black spoke highly of Kanka. It sounds like he is battling for that No. 4 job behind Jonah Lea'ea.

"He's kind of following the footsteps of those older guys, but he shows up, man," Black said. "He has put good weight on himself where it's naturally helping him in the inside with the double teams and the combo blocks, but same thing for him, man.

"You see a guy who wants to strike and use his hands and play with pad level more consistent and dominate his gap, and always tell those guys, especially as a young guy, if you want to play right away, show you could come out and dominate a double team and a base block, and then we'll build it from there. So, he's been able to help himself by doing that daily and attack everything daily, and Bob's a smart kid, too."