Michigan senior tight end Zack Marshall enters fall camp as the Wolverines' projected starter at his position after a standout summer in the weight room that caught the attention of the new coaching staff.

Offensive coordinator Jason Beck singled out Marshall during a Wednesday, Aug. 5 media availability as fall camp opened at Schembechler Hall.

"When you talk to (strength coach Doug Elisaia), 'who are the all-stars of the summer?' (Marshall) is just one of those guys that just is awesome," Beck said, according to the Michigan Daily. "We anticipate him being a piece of what we do based off his involvement last year, but also based off his leadership and work ethic this summer."

The praise carries extra weight given Marshall missed all of spring ball with an injury. The new staff, led by first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham, is still gathering information on where Marshall fits in the offense. His summer work appears to have answered some questions.

Marshall, listed at 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, recorded 199 receiving yards, 16 receptions and one touchdown as a junior in 2025. The bulk of that production came in two mid-season games against Washington and Purdue, where he totaled 140 yards, eight catches and his lone score. His primary role in the passing game involved crossing routes that let him accelerate in space, while he also contributed as a run blocker.

His increased opportunity last season came largely because fellow tight end Hogan Hansen battled injuries throughout the year. Hansen remains the primary depth option behind Marshall, with late-enrolling freshman Mason Bonner also competing for reps, according to Maize n' Brew's projected depth chart.

That makes fall camp critical.

Whittingham set the tone for the offseason overhaul at Big Ten Football Media Days on Thursday, July 30, saying he found his players couldn't lift at the level he expected when he arrived in Ann Arbor roughly seven months earlier. He described finding "real tall, long, good-looking athletes" whose strength wasn't where it needed to be, and said the staff addressed the gap aggressively. By media days, all but a handful of rostered athletes had hit personal bests on their lifts, according to Whittingham.

Beck said the tight end position demands versatility in both the run and pass games at a high level, making Marshall's physical development especially relevant for a No. 16-ranked Michigan team that opens the season Saturday, Sept. 5 against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.