With Texas and Michigan set to face off on New Year\u2019s Eve in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, both teams are dealing with notable starters opting out in favor of preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/p>\n
We already know of a few for Texas. Anthony Hill<\/a> and Michael Taaffe<\/a> had previously announced their status for the game, opting to let younger players step into a bigger role. The same goes for seniors Jaylon Guilbeau<\/a> and Trey Moore<\/a>. <\/p>\n Yesterday, that list grew larger, as to no one\u2019s surprise, Malik Muhammad<\/a> opted out of the game in preparation for the NFL Draft, declaring early with another year of eligibility left.<\/p>\n We already know the names of those who will be taking their places: Texas will have the chance to audit its very young back seven with the five opt-outs.<\/p>\n But what about the Wolverines?<\/p>\n With a changing of the guard in Ann Arbor, you might\u2019ve expected a large number of decommits, portal entrants and bowl opt-outs, but interim head coach Biff Poggi<\/a> has done a remarkable job of patching up the cracks.<\/p>\n A duo of players decommitted, and a few expected portal entrants have already happened, but Michigan has only announced three players opting out for the Citrus Bowl.<\/p>\n First and most notably is edge rusher Derrick Moore<\/a>. Far and away the best pass rusher on the team, nearly doubling second place in pressures and almost quadrupling second place in sacks. An expected day two pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Moore was arguably the best player on the team.<\/p>\n But he\u2019s not the only pass rusher they\u2019ll miss. Fellow edge Jaishawn Barham<\/a>, second in pressures on the defense, will also be opting out of the game. He\u2019s projected to be taken around the fifth round.<\/p>\n Michigan will struggle to rush the passer without the duo, but they aren\u2019t struggling for depth. Grad transfer TJ Guy<\/a> hopes to raise his draft stock in his final game as a Wolverine. He played over 300 snaps for Michigan in 2025. As did Cameron Brandt<\/a>, a junior pass rusher. It will be a big game for RS FR Dominic Nichols<\/a>, who was heavily involved in games against USC and Oklahoma. He\u2019s expected to take a bigger role in 2026.<\/p>\n The other opt-out we\u2019re aware of is Giovanni El-Hadi<\/a>, a graduate offensive lineman who played left guard for Michigan. While El-Hadi was the starter, RS SO Nathan Efobi<\/a> played over 200 snaps at the position in 2025 and won\u2019t be too noticeable a downgrade from the veteran.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t expect Justice Haynes<\/a> to play in this game, as he suffered an injury that would require surgery on his right foot in November. Haynes is a top NFL draft prospect, but his fellow ballcarrier Jordan Marshall<\/a> is one of the best backs in the Big Ten. They won\u2019t miss a beat down-to-down, but Haynes was the more explosive back overall.<\/p>\n We\u2019re also monitoring the situation for two highly touted draft prospects: Rayshaun Benny<\/a> and Jyaire Hill<\/a>.<\/p>\n Benny is a graduate defensive lineman who will be drafted, but may take the Ethan Burke<\/a> route of upping his stock in his final chance to play live college football. Even if he were to opt out, Michigan is very talented on the interior and has the depth to make up for whatever might be lost with Benny out.<\/p>\n Hill is a really intriguing story, as he\u2019s just a redshirt sophomore, so there\u2019s a good chance he returns. Still, Hill is one of the better prospects in this cornerback class and has evolved in coverage over his two years starting at Michigan.<\/p>\n