Michigan Football: An Early Look at the Spring Game Depth Chart

Don't forget to mark your calendar for April 14. The upcoming spring game will be the next chance you'll have to see the Wolverines in action.

The Michigan fanbase was thrilled by how the Wolverines completed the 2011 season with a four-game winning streak, including wins over Ohio State in Ann Arbor and Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. 

This winter was without the excitement of a coaching search, but instead, the Wolverines are placing the finishing touches on one of its best recruiting classes in years.

Michigan might even pickup four or five more commits before national Signing Day (Feb. 1).

The Wolverines already have the nucleus to contend for their first Big Ten championship since 2004. 

The work begins in less than two months when Michigan begins spring practice. Let's take a look at the depth chart, which should be mainly intact when practice begins:

Receivers

Note: Previous starters are indicated in bold. There are eight returning starters on both offense and defense. Three early enrollees  will be eligible for spring practice (LB Joe Bolden, LB Kaleb Ringer and S Jarrod Wilson). They will be included in the depth chart as applicable. Several incoming freshmen are expected to see early action this fall, but will not arrive until this summer.

Missing from this season's receiving corps will be WRs Darryl Stonum, Junior Hemingway, Kelvin Grady and TE Kevin Koger.

Roy Roundtree and Jeremy Gallon will start at the wideouts, while Coach Brady just might move Vincent Smith and Justice Hayes from a crowded backfield to the slot. 

Gallon came on to have an excellent season, leaving an early warning with a pair of nice receptions against Notre Dame. Roundtree, who had a great sophomore season with 72 receptions, must bounce back from a sub-par 2011. Jeremy Jackson and Jerald Robinson will get plenty of work this spring.

Brandon Moore's starting slot at tight end may be in jeopardy.    

Wide Receiver

Roy Roundtree: 6'0", 177 lbs, Sr.

Jeremy Jackson: 6’3”, 198 lbs, Jr.

Wide Receiver

Jeremy Gallon: 5'8", 185 lbs, Jr.

Jerald Robinson: 6’1”, 206 lbs, So.

Slot Receiver

Vincent Smith: 5'6", 172 lbs, Sr.

Drew Dileo: 5'10", 172 lbs, Jr.

Justice Hayes: 5'10", 176 lbs., So.

Tight End

Brandon Moore: 6'5", 255 lbs. Sr.

Ricardo Miller 6' 4", 234 lbs., So.

Offensive Line

One thing's for sure, it will be hard to keep Chris Bryant out of the lineup. The sophomore from Chicago is expected to be a mainstay on the line for some time to come.  

Ricky Barnum, who is expected to be at full strength after missing most of 2011 with leg and ankle injuries, could be moved to center, where he would get stiff competition from sophomore Jack Miller.

Regardless what happens this spring, no less than five incoming freshmen will add to the fun. Look for Patrick Omameh and Michael Schofield to have banner seasons at right guard and right tackle.    

Left Tackle

Taylor Lewan: 6’8”, 295 lbs., Jr.

Kristian Mateus 6’7”, 285 lbs., So.

Left Guard

Ricky Barnum: 6’3”, 292 lbs, Jr.

Chris Bryant: 6’4”, 341 lbs., So.

Center

Rocko Khoury: 6’4”, 287, Sr.

Jack Miller: 6’4", 263, So.

Right Guard

Patrick Omameh: 6’4”, 300, Jr.

Elliott Mealer: 6’5”, 315, Jr.

Right Tackle

Michael Schofield: 6’7”, 299, Jr.

Erik Gunderson: 6’8”, 312, Jr.

Offensive Backfield

Back for his senior season will be dual-threat quarterback Denard Robinson. He'll get the majority of snaps, but look for more shenanigans from offensive coordinator Al Borges. Spring practice should be extremely entertaining since Russell Bellomy will seriously join the competition.

There will no doubt be more of the diamond formation with Gardner under center and Robinson in the slot. We could also see either Gardner or Robinson running pass patterns. Gardner would be quite a target, Robinson has dazzling speed and Bellomy has a more than arm.

With Stephen Hopkins entrenched at fullback and Fitz Toussaint coming off a great season, look for an improvement in Michigan's running game. Thomas Rawls, who will be keeping Toussaint very honest, just might have a magical spring game.

Quarterback

Denard Robinson: 6’0”, 195 lbs., Sr.

Devin Gardner: 6’4”, 205 lbs., Jr. 

Russell Bellomy: 6’4”, 189 lbs., Fr.

Fullback

Stephen Hopkins: 6’0”, 228 lbs., Jr.

Joe Kerridge: 6’0”, 231 lbs., So.

Running Back

Fitzgerald Toussaint: 5’10”, 195 lbs., Jr.

Thomas Rawls: 5'10", 219 lbs., So.

Stephen Hopkins: 6’0”, 228 lbs., Jr.

Vincent Smith: 5’6”, 172 lbs., Sr.

Michael Cox: 6’0”, 214, Jr.

Defensive Line

The defensive line could be Michigan's Achilles heel this fall. Except for Craig Roh and Jibreel Black, there's not an abundance of experience up front. Frank Clark and Nathan Brink showed some positive moments at the season's end, but none of the tackles have displayed a whole lot.

Spring practice will give William Campbell, Richard Ash, Quinton Washington and Kenny Wilkins a chance to prove themselves, but come this fall, a fellow named Ondre Pipkens will crash the party.

Roh should have a more constant year, while Black will have a great opportunity to cement a starting spot.    

Weakside Defensive End

Craig Roh: 6’5”, 269 lbs., Sr.

Frank Clark: 6'2", 228 lbs., So.

Nose Tackle

William Campbell: 6’5”, 320,  Jr.

Richard Ash: 6'3", 301, So.

Tackle

Quinton Washington: 6’4”, 302, Jr.

Kenny Wilkins: 6’3”, 280, So.

Strongside Defensive End

Jibreel Black: 6’2”, 260 lbs., Jr.

Nathan Brink: 6'5", 263 lbs., Jr.

Linebackers

Who wouldn't be thrilled with this group of linebackers? Kenny Demens, Desmond Morgan, Jake Ryan and Brandin Hawthorne all had excellent seasons, while a pair of early enrollees and a redshirt freshman will provide excellent competition during spring practice.

Kaleb Ringer and Joe Bolden are a pair of Ohio recruits who are expected to contribute plenty. Ringer is the nephew of former Michigan State running back Javon Ringer, and  Bolden received offers from more than 20 schools. These are the type of players Coach Hoke and DC Greg Mattison expect to eventually be in the starting lineup. 

Lets not forget about outside linebacker Antonio Poole, a 4-star redshirt from Cincinnati.

SAM

Jake Ryan: 6’3”, 230 lbs., So.

Cam Gordon: 6’3”, 222 lbs., Jr.

Brennen Beyer: 6’3”, 225 lbs., So.

MIKE

Kenny Demens: 6’1”, 248 lbs., Sr.

Mike Jones: 6’2”, 224 lbs., Jr.

Kaleb Ringer: 6'1", 225 lbs., Fr.

WILL

Desmond Morgan: 6'1", 220 lbs., So.

Brandin Hawthorne: 6'0", 214 lbs., Sr.

Joe Bolden: 6'3", 230 lbs., Fr.

Antonio Poole: 6'2", 212 lbs., Fr.

Secondary

Blake Countess was a pleasant surprise, as he won a starting cornerback job midway through the 2011 season. That allowed Troy Woolfolk a chance to move back to his natural safety position. That also allowed Courtney Avery,  Raymon Taylor and Delonte Hollowell to get more playing time. 

Countess and Floyd will start the spring at the corners, and Avery will be the nickelback.

Strong safety Jordan Kovacs will be back for his final season, and Thomas Gordon will begin the spring as the other safety. While Josh Furman and Marvin Robinson will provide solid competition, look for early enrollee Jerrod Wilson to make quite a splash. Wilson, a 4-star recruit from Akron, was also offered by Notre Dame, Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA.

Cornerback

Blake Countess: 5'10", 176 lbs., So.

Raymon Taylor: 5'10", 169 lbs., So.

Delonte Hollowell: 5'9", 164 lbs., So.

Cornerback

J.T. Floyd: 6’0”, 185 lbs., Jr.

Courtney Avery: 5’11, 170 lbs., So.

Strong Safety

Jordan Kovacs: 6’0”, 197 lbs., Sr.

Marvin Robinson: 6’2”, 200 lbs., Jr.

Free Safety

Thomas Gordon: 5’11”, 208 lbs., Jr.

Josh Furman: 6’2”, 208 lbs., So.

Jerrod Wilson: 6'2", 190 lbs., Fr.

Special Teams

Will Hagerup lost his punting job twice in 2011. First, he missed the first four games due to a suspension, and Matt Wile filled in admirably. After an inconsistent remainder of the season, Hoke decided to replace Hagerup early in the Sugar Bowl. Again, Wile was up to the task, and he will go into spring practice No. 1.

Wile also handled kickoffs in 2011 and was the back-up placekicker.

Brendan Gibbons bounced back from a poor season to hit 13-of-17 attempts, including the game-winner against the Hokies.

Jeremy Gallon and Drew Dileo will handle punt and kickoff returns during spring drills.

George Morales will battle Jereth Glanda for the long snapper position..     

Punter

Matt Wile: 6’2”, 208 lbs., So.

Will Hagerup: 6’4”, 210 lbs., Jr.

Kickoffs

Matt Wile: 6’2”, 208 lbs., So.

Field Goals

Brendan Gibbons: 6’1”, 227 lbs., Jr.

Punt Returns/Kickoff Returns

Jeremy Gallon: 5’8”, 185 lbs., Jr.

Drew Dileo: 5’10”, 172 lbs., Jr.

Long Snapper

Jereth Glanda: 6'3”, 255 lbs., Jr.

George Morales: 6'0" 236 lbs., Sr.