Everyone knows the stars of the Michigan Wolverines: Donovan Edwards, Will Johnson, Mason Graham, Kenny G, and Colston Loveland are more than just well-known names by now. They feel like part of the family due to how frequently they’re discussed every week. But amidst the stars, the transfers, and the lesser-known players, there’s a group that has slipped through the cracks of Michigan’s spotlight for various reasons.
Identifying an underrated player can be tricky. To some, the players listed below might not seem underrated because they’re the subject of every bar conversation with friends on the weekends. Some people simply equate underrated with unknown; think of players like Zeke Berry, Fredrick Moore, or Jyaire Hill.
For this list, underrated means players who deserve more discussion, more recognition, and more conversation in general. They might be rising stars who aren’t often mentioned or role players who play a more crucial role than many realize.
Without further ado, here are five underrated players from Team 145 entering the 2024 season.
G Giovanni El-Hadi
Giovanni El-Hadi will be an All-American in 2024. It could be unanimous (unlikely), consensus, or only recognized by one entity, but barring injury, he has that level of talent. El-Hadi is already a proven force in the run game and has spent several years refining his pass-blocking skills.
Despite never being a full-time starter, El-Hadi seized his opportunity when he started three games in 2022 due to injuries, showing no drop-off from starter Trevor Keegan. The rising senior has played in 21 career games along the offensive line and is poised to be Michigan’s next great offensive guard.
WR Tyler Morris
Is there a chance that Tyler Morris will be WR1 next season? This might seem unfair to Semaj Morgan, but this is a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ kind of business. We’ve watched Morris’s highlight reel touchdown in the Rose Bowl countless times and have nearly needed therapy for what Morgan’s costly muffed punt in the same game did to us.
Beyond that quasi-trauma, Tyler Morris is an elite athlete who showcased his talent against an Alabama defense full of NFL prospects. Whether he ends up as WR1 or WR2, Morris will leave his mark on this season and deserves more recognition as a rising star on this team.
LB Ernest Hausmann
Name theory is real. If Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin had been named Tyson Taylor, would he be as well remembered? Similarly, linebacker Ernest Hausmann, despite his name sounding like a personal injury lawyer – “Have you been injured? Come see Big Ern!” – is becoming a standout middle linebacker.
After learning from one of Michigan’s best linebacker duos, the junior now steps into a full-time starting role as the leader of the defense. Despite being new to the starting lineup, Hausmann is far from inexperienced.
In two years, Hausmann has played in 27 games at Nebraska and Michigan, improving rapidly each season. Playing next to the exciting Maryland transfer Jaishawn Barham, who will get praise for flashy plays, Hausmann shouldn’t be overlooked for the consistency he brings, relentlessly shutting down running lanes and forcing teams into one-dimensionality.
DT Rayshaun Benny
The forgotten man! If Michigan continues its trend of playing three defensive tackles on early downs, Rayshaun Benny will start on the best defensive line in football. Like El-Hadi, Benny has never been a consistent starter during his three years at Michigan, but he has played in 31 games and has been one of the most impactful players on the defense when healthy.
His quarterback pressure in the 2022 Ohio State game led to one of C.J. Stroud’s two late-game interceptions, and his strip of Drew Allar against Penn State stopped the Nittany Lions’ quarterback run game. If Benny can recover from the season-ending injury he suffered against Alabama, he’ll continue to make big plays in big games for the Wolverines.
TE Max Bredeson
I’m writing this while listening to “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters.
Max Bredeson is a football player’s football player who embodies the physicality the Wolverines are known for. But Bredeson isn’t just a bruiser. While he has some of The Program’s Lattimer in his finishing, Bredeson is also technically proficient and a deceptively good athlete.
Bredeson is a key part of Michigan’s running game, and without him, the drop-off would be more significant than losing the starting right tackle. No matter the running scheme or blocking assignment, Bredeson consistently performs at a high level and is the most important skill player who will (almost) never touch the ball.
