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Michigan TE Marshall apologizes for leaked texts criticizing offensive coordinator
In short
Michigan tight end Zack Marshall apologized Tuesday after group messages attributed to him criticizing offensive coordinator Jason Beck and the Wolverines' offensive scheme leaked on social media. The messages followed Michigan's 20-14 loss to Minnesota. A Michigan spokesperson said coaches were aware of the matter and discussed it with Marshall.
Why it matters
The episode puts internal frustration at Michigan's struggling offense into public view five games into the season, with the team at 3-2 and 0-2 in the Big Ten. It also makes an on-record apology from a player part of the season's narrative, at a program whose offensive output ranks near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Key facts
- Michigan tight end Zack Marshall apologized Tuesday for comments he made after the Wolverines' 20-14 loss to Minnesota. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Leaked group messages alleged to have come from Marshall said first-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck told the team's tight ends none of them were valuable to the offense, and contained other criticism of the offensive scheme. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Marshall said the game is won and lost as a team and that he pointed fingers instead of taking accountability. [ 2 , 3 ]
- A Michigan spokesperson said coaches were aware of the matter and discussed it with Marshall. [ 2 ]
- Quarterback Bryce Underwood was 10 of 21 passing for 101 yards with two interceptions against Minnesota. [ 2 ]
- Michigan ranks 122nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense, averaging 315.8 yards per game, and has lost its first two conference games for the first time since 2014. [ 2 ]
- Marshall, a senior, has appeared in five games this season and played in 13 games last year, catching 16 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Zack Marshall publicly apologized after messages criticizing offensive coordinator Jason Beck leaked. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Michigan lost 20-14 to Minnesota before the messages leaked. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The leaked messages criticized Beck and the team's offensive scheme. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Michigan's coaching staff was aware of the leaked messages and addressed the incident with Marshall. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Who leaked the group messages, and whether all of them were written by Marshall. The Associated Press describes the messages as alleged to have come from Marshall, and neither document identifies who released them.
- Newsweek's account that some feel Michigan should be 2-3 rather than 3-2 because of a controversial finish in its season-opening win over Western Michigan. This assessment appears only in one outlet and is not corroborated by the other documents.
- Newsweek's reference to a “Kyle Whittingham era” at Michigan. Only one document mentions the head coach by name; the others do not address the head coaching situation.
What local media are saying
Business mediaAll three documents are wire or news outlets filing on the same locker-room story: the apology, the content of the leaked messages and Michigan's offensive numbers. The Associated Press carried the fullest account with Marshall's quotes, team statistics and confirmation from a Michigan spokesperson; Newsweek added the text of several messages and cited ESPN on the coaching staff's response; Reuters carried only a headline naming the apology.
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Timeline, local time
- Reuters publishes a headline reporting that a Michigan tight end apologized for leaked texts criticizing an offensive coordinator. [ 1 ]
- The Associated Press reports Marshall's apology on X, the contents of the leaked messages and a Michigan spokesperson's statement that coaches discussed the matter with him. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek publishes its account, quoting several of the leaked messages and citing ESPN on the coaching staff's awareness of them. [ 3 ]