Michigan’s Justice Haynes could soar in 2026 NFL draft with big 2025, says PFF
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Michigan football has lost a lot of talent in the past two years after winning the national championship following the 2023 season. With 13 players being drafted in the 2024 NFL draft and another seven in the 2025 draft, the Wolverines certainly were loaded with skillful players.
The question now, however, is how much talent is there currently in Ann Arbor?
The maize and blue have a lot of players returning from last year's squad, as Michigan is ranked No. 29 in returning talent according to ESPN's Bill Connelly. Even though there are many top-tier recruits who will be taking the field (about eight on both offense and defense -- and that's not even counting three-stars who have shined, like Rod Moore or TJ Guy) the Wolverines are looked as something of a good, but not great team entering 2025.
However, if Michigan gets big production from one player in particular, it wouldn't just propel the Wolverines into a solid year, but could also allow him to potentially leave early.
One offensive player who could make a big jump this year
The maize and blue got a big transfer portal commitment from former five-star running back Justice Haynes, who started his career at Alabama. He didn't get much run in his freshman season, but saw more time in his sophomore campaign -- though he was still the third running option behind quarterback Jalen Milroe and tailback compatriot Jam Miller.
In the April spring game, his first look in a Michigan uniform, Haynes shined, and is poised to either start, or split carries with second-year running back Jordan Marshall -- a former four-star out of Cincinnati who looked excellent against Haynes' former team in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
PFF put together a list of 10 players who are 'wild cards' that could rise up 2026 NFL draft boards. Haynes was included as one of the 10.
Haynes was stuck in a committee backfield at Alabama during his first two years of college football but now projects as the bellcow back after transferring to Michigan. The No. 2 running back recruit in the 2023 class was very impressive on his 106 career carries with the Crimson Tide, posting an 84.7 rushing grade while averaging 3.4 yards after contact per attempt.
He’s a one-cut runner who shows good vision and nice contact balance, he just needs to extend the flashes across an entire season with the Wolverines.
In the spring game, Haynes had six carries for 51 yards, which included a 26-yard run where he showed great vision and speed. If it was a real game instead of an intersquad scrimmage, it could have been potentially longer, but Haynes ran out of bounds instead of fighting for extra yardage.
Other candidates PFF didn't mention
Haynes might be PFF's pick, but there are others who certainly could find themselves in a solid position in next year's NFL draft. Here are some of our candidates for potential high-level draftees:
Seniors and graduates
- EDGE Derrick Moore
- EDGE TJ Guy
- DT Rayshaun Benny
- DT Tré Williams
- DT Damon Payne
- LB Ernest Hausmann
- LB Jaishawn Barham
- S Rod Moore
- LG Giovanni El-Hadi
- WR Donaven McCulley
- TE Marlin Klein
Juniors
- S Brandyn Hillman
- CB Jyaire Hill
Michigan doesn't have a lot of high-level upperclassman talent on offense, but a lot of younger talent, like running back Jordan Marshall, quarterback Bryce Underwood, right tackle Andrew Sprague, and left tackle Andrew Babalola.
The Wolverines kick off the 2025 season on August 30 against New Mexico at The Big House.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Can Michigan’s Justice Haynes shine in 2025 season for 2026 NFL draft?
