Michigan Football Recruiting: 5 Players the Wolverines Can Now Move Past

The Michigan Wolverines are getting ready for the 2012 season. So, which players will be giving way to developing talents or new recruits?

Michigan is very strong at most positions, but wide receiver, defensive tackle, tight end and safety stand out as areas where the Wolverines could look to new players for star production.  

William Campbell, DT

Ryan Van Bergen and Mike Martin, Michigan’s longtime starters at defensive tackle, are gone. Replacing them for 2012 will be the Wolverines' most serious concern on defense. 

William Campbell is Michigan's next player in line to start at defensive tackle, but he has disappointed thus far in his career and failed to win a starting spot in 2011. Campbell will be competing with highly touted Quinton Washington and highly touted Richard Ash for minutes next year, so Michigan should look to move past him in favor of better players.

Looking to the long term, Michigan should also try to find some meaningful playing time for top 2012 recruit Ondre Pipkins. He is the Wolverines' most talented player at the defensive tackle position, and they will look to mold him into a star.  

Roy Roundtree, WR

Roy Roundtree was supposed to be Michigan’s star receiver in 2011, but he fell short of expectations. Roundtree may be too small to be a true No. 1 receiver for Denard Robinson. He will be back in 2012, but the Wolverines will need to find other receivers who can produce.

Michigan will expect Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson, their two true freshmen, to step up and provide more production from the wide receiver position. Both players were well-regarded recruits, and have the size and speed to thrive in the Wolverines' offense.  

Jeremy Gallon, WR

Michigan has an elite offense, but its production from the wide receiver position needs to improve in 2012. 

Like Roy Roundtree, Jeremy Gallon has not performed to expectations. Michigan will look for him to step up, but if he cannot fill the void, the Wolverines will look elsewhere for production.

Michigan's best hope for star production at wide receiver is Jerald Robinson. He is by far the most talented receiver on the Wolverines' roster, and has the size and speed to be the No. 1 in this offense. If he steps up, Robinson could be the key to Michigan's offense in 2012.

Brandon Moore, TE

With stalwart starter Kyle Koger gone, Michigan's next tight end on the depth chart is Brandon Moore.  Moore is Koger's long-time backup, but the Wolverines will look elsewhere for a new star at the tight end position.

The Wolverines' best talent at tight end is talented 2012 recruit Devin Funchess. Recruits don't normally get a chance to shine immediately, but the Wolverines' lack of either star power or depth means they may look to him early in the season.  

Marvin Robinson, S

The Wolverines will look to a combination of players for safety depth. Starters Thomas Gordon and Jordan Kovacs are an excellent duo, but the team struggled with secondary depth behind them in 2011. 

Marvin Robinson is the logical third safety on the depth chart, but his career has been disappointing up to this point.

The Wolverines will look for freshman Josh Furman to step up, but Michigan will also be interested to see if highly touted 2012 recruit Jarrod Wilson is a future star at the position for the Wolverines.