Position-by-Position Preview of Michigan's 2015 Roster

It’s June, and the Michigan Wolverines’ quarterback situation is the same as it has been since coach Jim Harbaugh’s post-spring game press conference on April 4: Until further notice, junior Shane Morris is the No. 1 option.

As of right now, Alex Malzone, a true freshman who started the scrimmage opposite of Morris, appears to be the front-runner for the No. 2 position.  

Then there’s Jake Rudock, a senior transfer from Iowa, and Zach Gentry, a 4-star recruit who will arrive this summer. Each of them stands to liven up the competition in camp. There’s a rough idea, but the thought of quarterback is far from complete.

The offensive line isn’t set either, but those pieces should fall into place later this summer. The same goes for the secondary—which is now without Blake Countess, who transferred to Auburn—and the rest of the position groups.

Assumptions can be drawn from 2014 and April’s spring game, but they may not mean a thing come August. Harbaugh and his staff have repeatedly offered zero guarantees as to who will start, when they’ll start, why they’ll start and how they’ll start. Those details will come later, as the Wolverines now have a clean slate on which to start writing their future.

This slideshow will preview each position with group slides, starting with the O-line and ending with the defensive backs. Each slide will provide a look at potential starters and highlight the all-important depth factor(s).

Offensive Line

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Sophomore Mason Cole is on his way to an All-Big Ten season.

Tim Drevno, Michigan’s new offensive coordinator, has the task of rebuilding one of the worst offensive lines in all of college football. Granted, the Wolverines may have shown slight glimmers of improvement in 2014, but they are light-years behind the progress projected by the former coaching staff.

There is a problem when players such as Kyle Kalis, a former 4-star recruit, have yet to fully develop by time they’re seniors. However, this could be the year for the 6’5”, 292-pounder who projects to start at right guard.

Mason Cole, a sophomore, will likely lock down the blind side. The 6’5”, 287-pounder started 12 games as a freshman and is one of the Wolverines’ better O-line pickups in years. Cole played quite well under former O-line coach Darrell Funk, so imagine what he’ll do under Drevno’s instruction.

Graham Glasgow, a fifth-year senior, should end up starting at center. The 6’6”, 303-pounder is regarded as one of the team’s best up front.

Ben Braden, a redshirt junior, looks like the starting left guard. The 6’6”, 331-pounder started 12 times in 2014.

Erik Magnuson, a redshirt junior, seems likely for right tackle. The 6’6”, 296-pounder started five times in 2014 and has 13 total starts on his resume. He’ll get reps this fall.

But don’t write off Juwann Bushell-Beatty just yet—the 6’6”, 319-pound sophomore picked up momentum during spring scrimmages.

Quick Look

LT: Cole

LG: Braden

C: Glasgow

RG: Kalis

RT: Magnuson

Notables: Bushell-Beatty (RT), Logan Tuley-Tillman (LT), David Dawson (LG). Along with incoming players, several underclassmen could end up finding their way to the O-line this season. Harbaugh and Drevno are bent on improvement across the board, so they'll likely make several adjustments before settling on a firm lineup. 

Quarterbacks

As passing game coordinator, Jedd Fisch will handle the quarterbacks and wide receivers. In an effort to truly maximize potential, he’ll likely end up working closely with tight ends coach Jay Harbaugh as well.

The Wolverines need help through the air, and it all starts at quarterback.

As mentioned in the opener, Morris appears to be No. 1 and Malzone appears to be No. 2. However, it’s difficult to imagine a guy transferring from Iowa to Michigan just to sit on the bench. Rudock has 25 starts, and that’s roughly 13 times Morris’ experience.

This year could prove to be rocky for Harbaugh, who is known for having star quarterbacks at both the NFL and NCAA levels. Today, he doesn’t have one. That’s the challenge of it all. Ideally, Harbaugh would like another Andrew Luck, who starred for him at Stanford (2009-2010), but he knows that Andrew Lucks don’t grow on trees.

But that doesn’t mean he’s not looking for something close.

“Andrew Luck is as near perfect as perfect gets," Harbaugh said of his former Stanford quarterback, via Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme. Mark Twain said that, and we're hoping that happens again here at Michigan."

Common sense suggests that Rudock, a 6’3”, 208-pound pro-styler, will start for the Wolverines this season. Morris, a 6’3”, 209-pound lefty pro-styler, should be heavily involved in the competition. Depending on how things unfold, Harbaugh may opt to throw Gentry, a 6’7”, 230-pound pocket-passer, head-first into the waters to see if he can swim.

Ideally, Michigan would like to redshirt Malzone (6’2”, 218) and Gentry, leaving Rudock, Morris and Wilton Speight (6’6”, 235) as the top three. But as mentioned earlier, each player has a clean slate. During his national signing day press conference, Harbaugh said that he wouldn’t base his decisions on the past, only on what he sees in practice.

QB: Rudock, Morris, Gentry/Speight/Malzone

Running Backs and Fullbacks

With Harbaugh and running back coach Tyrone Wheatley at the helm, odds are in favor of power football quickly returning to Michigan's backfield. Of course, fullbacks tend to be important components of said style, so prepare for healthy doses of fifth-year senior Joe Kerridge, a 6’0”, 249-pound wrecking ball out of Traverse City.

Kerridge played well during the spring game and should expand upon his 10 previous starts. Expect Wyatt Shallman, a 6’3”, 244-pound redshirt sophomore, and Brady Pallante, a 6’0”, 276-pound redshirt freshman, to block and carry as well. According to teammates and coaches, Shallman had a productive spring. During the offseason, Pallante converted from D-line to fullback.

Ty Isaac, a redshirt sophomore, could end up being Michigan’s No. 1 running back, but the 6’3”, 240-pound transfer from USC would have to leapfrog juniors Derrick Green and De’Veon Smith, a pair of roughly 5’11”, 230-pound bruisers who have yet t­o show their true colors. ­­

The Wolverines will also have freshman Karan Higdon, a 3-star prospect out of Florida. The 5’10”, 190-pounder may not see action this season, but he could very well push the competition further than it’s been in recent years. A logjam at the running back position will be a good thing for Michigan, which hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Fitz Toussaint's 1,041 yards in 2011.

In 2014, Smith led Michigan with 519 yards and six touchdowns. Prior to suffering a season-ending injury versus Rutgers, Green rushed for 471 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, Michigan rushed for 1,954 yards and 17 touchdowns.

RB: Isaac, Green/Smith

FB: Kerridge, Shallman/Pallante/Sione Houma

Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Will Michigan finally get the most from its receivers and tight ends?

Fisch and Jay Harbaugh have enough to work when it comes to receivers and tight ends. Despite the loss of Devin Funchess, who skipped his senior year to enter the NFL draft, the Wolverines aren’t short on pass-catching options.

They’re just short on returning production, as Funchess led the team with 733 yards and four touchdowns last season.

In 2014, Jake Butt caught 21 passes for 211 yards and two scores—the 6’6”, 248-pound junior is the Wolverines’ top returning tight end. He’ll head a group consisting of A.J. Williams, Ian Bunting and Chase Winovich, among others, though they should be the core of the position.

As for the receivers, Brian Cole, a true frosh and early enrollee, could be one to watch this fall. The former Saginaw Heritage star was one of the nation’s top prep athletes of 2015 and brings 4.3-second 40-yard speed to a stable in need of playmakers.

The 6’2”, 200-pounder may find a home as a starting wideout right alongside seniors Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh. Sophomores Freddy Canteen and Maurice Ways and junior Jaron Dukes should figure into the two-deep.

In 2014, Darboh caught 36 passes for 473 yards and two touchdowns. Chesson had 14 catches for 154 yards. At this point, they're the top two "experienced" guys. 

As of early June, there isn’t a clear-cut super threat for the Wolverines. Not many teams have one, but Michigan got used to having that luxury with Funchess. With that said, the post-Funchess era could get off to a slow start. When at full tilt, Funchess was among the most difficult receivers to cover in the nation. His 6’5”, 235-pound frame and exceptional athleticism sent defensive backs into frenzies.

Without the home run shot, look for a body-blow style to serve as the passing game’s bread and butter. However, once further developed, the Wolverines should have a balanced attack, complete with the big-bodied tight end, quick slot (Cole/Canteen) and downfield threats.

In 2014, the Wolverines finished with the Big Ten’s worst passing offense. On top of that, they averaged just 20.6 points per game and allowed Devin Gardner, the former starter, to be sacked 50 times in the past two years. That points to two things: An anemic aerial assault and horrid offensive line.

Gardner didn’t have time to get open, and his receivers had difficulty breaking loose from defenders. In 2014, that translated to just 2,042 yards through the air.

Quick Look

WR: Darboh, Chesson, Cole, Ways

Notables: Canteen, Dennis Norfleet (pending suspension)

TE: Butt, Bunting, Khalid Hill, Winovich, Tyrone Wheatley, Jr. 

Defensive Line

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Willie Henry is part of a healthy Michigan D-line.

Entering the fifth year of his second term at Michigan, defensive line coach Greg Mattison has yet again assembled a group that should finish among the nation’s best by the time the season ends. For the past two years, his defensive lines have contributed to top-15 finishes in total defense.

If not for Mattison’s defense, Michigan football would be in even rougher shape. Formerly of Florida, D.J. Durkin has joined Mattison as the Wolverines defensive coordinator. Together, the possibilities are endless.

Based on observations, Chris Wormley appears to have greatly progressed during the past two years, and this fall could be his payoff. The 6’4”, 300-pounder could play defensive end for Mattison, but his size and rushing ability may be better suited for the inside. He projects as a starting tackle.

Willie Henry, a redshirt junior, and Ondre Pipkins, a senior, are options for the inside as well. At 6’2” and 311 pounds, Henry tips the scale as a potential heavyweight for Mattison in 2015. At 6’3” and 317 pounds, Pipkins, who has trouble staying healthy and consistent, should be a lock for a No. 1 spot by now. Really, both of them should have done so by now. 

But Bryan Mone, a 6’4”, 325-pound sophomore, may eclipse both of them before the Wolverines start their Big Ten schedule. He's been on the rise since 2014.

Mone is quick enough for the outside, but has prototypical size to play the interior. He may end up as an interchangeable piece for Mattison and Durkin; Mattison is known for the four-man front, while Durkin is known for the 3-4. 

Ryan Glasgow, a redshirt junior, made 11 starts in 2014 and finished with 22 tackles. He could get top reps as a tackle.

Taco Charlton, a redshirt junior, has made just one start, but will likely be a key defensive end this fall. At 6’6” and 273 pounds, his towering stance and respectable reach make him ideal for taking away space from opposing offenses.

Quick Look

DT: Wormley, Henry, Henry Poggi

NT: Mone/Glasgow, Pipkins, Poggi

SDE: Charlton, Lawrence Marshall

WDE: Mario Ojemudia, Marshall

Linebackers

Joe Bolden, a 6’3”, 232-pound senior, and Desmond Morgan, a 6’1”, 236-pound fifth-year senior, return as Michigan’s most experienced linebackers.

If not for an injury to his forearm in 2014, Morgan would have likely been a major contributor to a corps that just lost Jake Ryan to graduation and the NFL draft. However, thanks to Ryan’s tutelage, Bolden has transformed into the Wolverines’ best option at the position.

Bolden returns with a team-high 102 tackles. James Ross III, a 6’1”, 232-pound senior, returns with 32, the second-most behind Bolden.

Ben Gedeon, a 6’3”, 241-pound junior, has been on the ascent since his freshman year. Since making a name for himself on special teams, Gedeon has become one of the Wolverines’ hardest hitters and most energetic tacklers.

Along with help from Mike McCray and Royce Jenkins-Stone, the aforementioned three should be Michigan’s top trio among the linebackers in 2015.

Quick Look

OLB: Ross III, Jenkins-Stone

MLB: Bolden/Gedeon

MLB: Morgan/Gedeon

Cornerbacks and Safeties

He only played three games in 2014, but Jabrill Peppers is set to inject his New Jersey attitude into the lineup this fall. At 6’1” and 205 pounds, "Pep” is by far the best all-around athlete on Harbaugh’s roster. He’s been continuously praised by teammates and coaches since his arrival.

Former head coach Brady Hoke couldn’t say enough good things about Peppers. Mattison, then the defensive coordinator, also gushed over the kid who can play corner and safety—and probably running back and/or slot receiver if needed.

It goes without saying, but Peppers will likely contribute in several areas this fall, but his primary duty—according to Michigan’s staff—will be as a nickelback and safety.

Now that Countess is gone, it appears as if Wayne Lyons, a senior transfer from Stanford, will take his place at the left corner. Lyons brings six career picks and four years of Pac-12 Saturdays to share with his teammates in Ann Arbor.

Jourdan Lewis, a junior, will likely post up at the right corner. During spring availability, Lewis was recognized as Michigan’s best cover man. He had two interceptions in 2014; compare that total to the zero picked up by his teammates, and it’s easy to see why secondary coaches Mike Zordich and Greg Jackson like Lewis, a former Cass Tech star.

In all likelihood, Jarrod Wilson will take whichever safety position left vacant by Peppers, who’ll likely be the strong safety as opposed to free safety.

Quick Look

LC: Lyons

RC: Lewis

SS: Peppers

FS: Wilson

Notables: Channing Stribling, Dymonte Thomas, Jeremy Clark, Tyree Kinnel (true freshman)

As for the kicking game, look for either Australian senior transfer Blake O'Neill or senior Kenny Allen to handle punting duties for special teams coach John Baxter, who will face an uphill climb in trying to replace punter Will Hagerup and kicker Matt Wile. Andrew David, a true freshman, may end getting a shot at full-time duties this fall. 

Stranger things have happened, and again, Harbaugh's Wolverines are starting 2015 with a clean slate. 

Michigan's 2015 class commitments can viewed here, via 247Sports. 

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and references were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting information via 247Sports and roster info via MGoBlue.com.