10 Best Michigan Wolverines Football Players, Ranked

The Michigan Wolverines have been a staple of college football since their first season in 1879. The program has won 12 national titles, including in 2023, which marked the final season of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure there. 

Now, their college football odds are available at the BetMGM online sportsbook.

Below, I’ve created a top 10 list of the best Wolverines football players. 

10 Best Michigan Wolverines Football Players, Ranked

Who Are the Best Michigan Football Players Ever?

1. Charles Woodson

Coming into Michigan as a true freshman, Woodson wasn’t a starter, but that changed by the second game of that season. From there, he played 34 straight games as a defensive back, punt returner, and even some wide receiver. 

Woodson is second all-time in Michigan interceptions with 18, including 8 in 1997. 

In 1997, Woodson became the third Michigan player to win the Heisman Trophy. Woodson is also the only defensive player ever to win the award. 

He won numerous accolades while in college, including the Heisman Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, and more. 

Woodson was drafted No. 4 overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

2. Desmond Howard

Howard may not be an all-time statistical leader for the Wolverines (he ranks third all-time in receiving touchdowns with 32), but his 1991 season puts him at No. 2. 

While he didn’t play much as a freshman in 1989, he followed that up with 57 passes for 858 yards and nine touchdowns in 1990.

His 1990 season was a fine year, but in 1991, he caught 61 passes for 950 yards and 19 touchdowns, which remains the school’s record for single-season touchdown catches. 

Howard won the Heisman Trophy in 1991, along with the Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. He was designated the Big Ten Most Valuable Player, and his No. 21 was retired by the team. 

3. Tom Harmon

Playing 24 games across three seasons, Harmon won the Heisman Trophy in 1940. Not only did he play quarterback, but he also played defence and special teams. 

As a senior against Ohio State, he ran for three touchdowns, threw two, kicked extra points, had three interceptions, and punted three times. 

He’s a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. 

4. Braylon Edwards

Playing at Michigan from 2001 to 2004, Edwards is the program’s all-time leader in receptions (252), receiving yards (3,541), and receiving touchdowns (39). 

He averaged 15.4 yards per catch in 2002. In his senior season, he played 12 games and caught 97 passes for 1,330 yards and 15 touchdowns. Aside from his freshman season, he caught double-digit touchdowns every year of his Michigan career. 

In 2004, he was the Big Ten Most Valuable Player and won the Biletnikoff Award. 

5. Anthony Carter

Also known as “AC,” Carter suited up for the Wolverines from 1979 to 1982, playing wide receiver. 

During his career at Michigan, he caught 161 passes (fifth in program history) for 3,076 yards (second) and 37 touchdowns (second). 

He was the Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1982 and was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten recipient. 

He’s enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. 

6. Denard Robinson

It took until his sophomore season to start getting reps, but from there, Robinson would become a staple in Wolverines lore with his nickname “Shoelace.” He was known for playing without ever tying his shoes. 

Robinson finished his career with 427 completions on 747 attempts for 6,250 yards, 49 touchdowns, and 39 interceptions, but on the ground, he was sensational, rushing 723 times for 4,495 yards and 42 touchdowns. 

In program history, he ranks first all-time in total offence yards (10,745), touchdowns responsible for (91), eighth in completions (427), fifth in passing yards (6,250), tied for fourth in passing touchdowns (49), second in rushing yards (4,495), and fifth in rushing touchdowns (42). 

7. Chad Henne

Henne was excellent at Michigan and holds the program’s records in completions (828), passing yards (9,715), and passing touchdowns (87). 

He started as a freshman in 2004, completing 240 of his 399 attempts for 2,743 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. That was the most touchdowns he threw in a single season. 

As a senior, he played poorly and got hurt, starting just eight games. He threw for 1,938 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. 

8. Rick Leach

Before Robinson, there was another dual-threat signal-caller in Leach. 

As Michigan’s quarterback, he played in 47 games, completed 236 passes for 4,045 yards, 46 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, and had 478 carries for 2,171 yards and 34 rushing scores. 

He ranks sixth all-time in passing touchdowns (48), tied for 10th in rushing touchdowns (34), seventh in total offence (6,460 yards), and third in touchdowns responsible for (82). 

9. Steve Hutchinson

During his time at Michigan, Hutchinson won a national championship, was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, was an All-American, and didn’t allow a sack over his final two seasons. 

He’s easily the best offensive lineman the program has ever seen. 

10. J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy really only started two seasons, serving as Cade McNamara’s backup in 2021. Still, in those two years, he won a national title, made the College Football Playoff, was the Rose Bowl MVP, the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year, and a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2023.

In his career across 28 starts, he completed 482 passes for 6,226 yards, 49 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions. He completed 72.3% of his passes as a junior. On the ground, he had 10 rushing scores and 632 yards. 

And, hey, it helps when Jim Harbaugh calls you the best Michigan quarterback of all time.