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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan tight end Zack Marshall issued a public apology on Tuesday after messages that appeared to be from him and were critical of offensive coordinator Jason Beck circulated on social media. The leak occurred in the aftermath of the Wolverines' 20-14 defeat to Minnesota.
In a post on X, Marshall expressed regret for his actions, stating, "Last weekend, in the hours after we lost, I made some inappropriate comments that I regret. This game is won and lost as a team, and I pointed fingers instead of taking accountability."
The leaked group messages, allegedly sent by Marshall, included a claim that Beck, who is in his first season as Michigan's offensive coordinator, had told the tight ends, "None of us are valuable to this offense." Additional messages contained criticism of the Wolverines' offensive scheme.
In the game against the Gophers, Michigan's offense struggled significantly, with quarterback Bryce Underwood completing 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards and throwing two interceptions as Minnesota's defense dominated.
Marshall, a senior, has played in five games this season. Last year, he appeared in 13 games and recorded 16 receptions for 199 yards and one touchdown.
"I let my frustrations speak for me in an emotional moment," Marshall said. "I apologize to my teammates and coaches for the unnecessary drama that this has caused."
The university has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the situation.
Michigan's offensive struggles are reflected in its national ranking: the team is 122nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense, averaging 315.8 yards per game. The Wolverines (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten) have scored fewer than 20 points in four of their five games and have started conference play with two losses for the first time since 2014.
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Originally reported by yahoo.