Michigan Football: 5 Post-Spring Questions Facing the Wolverines

The Michigan Wolverines ended their spring game last weekend and won't be heard from until the fall rolls around in August, when the team will then prepare for the regular season. The Wolverines are coming off one of their more successful seasons in recent memory, and the expectations for this season are through the roof.

But while the spring provides teams a chance to fix some of their issues and players the opportunity to move up the depth chart, it doesn't provide enough time to fix everything. Some things just have to wait until the fall.

Here are five questions the Wolverines still have to answer.

Who Will Win the Punting Job?

One of the most underrated battles of the spring is for the punter position. Will it be the junior Will Hagerup, who started last season, but didn't do so well as Michigan was 11th in punting in the Big Ten conference? Or will it be the sophomore Matt Wile, who averaged 41 yards a punt last season (six more yards than Hagerup) in limited action as a freshman?

Punting was not included in the spring game, so this is something that will wait a few months to be decided.

Will Any True Freshmen See Significant Time?

Michigan returns 14 starters from a year ago, including eight on the defensive side of the ball. But they also have a stacked recruiting class coming in. Some of them enrolled early and have already turned some heads in the spring. Three key players that have made a name for themselves so far are linebackers Joe Bolden and Kaleb Ringer and safety Jarrod Wilson.

"(For Bolden), it was really probably a great indoctrination for a young guy," coach Brady Hoke said via The Detroit Free Press. "But it's been good. Him and Kaleb and Jarrod, I'm real proud of how they made the transition."

Bolden was one of the top linebackers of this year's class and is a very aggressive player that has a lot of speed and athleticism. Wilson may be the most interesting case because of the recent suspension to safety Josh Furman opens up a spot on the depth chart.

It takes a lot for a true freshman to see the field early and often, but Michigan landed some very polished players that may just be ready to do so.

Leadership Anyone?

Last season the Wolverines were led by several seniors to help them achieve a great deal of success. Those players include David Molk, Kevin Koger and Ryan Van Bergen on the defensive side of the ball. But with those players no longer around, some of the players on the current roster must step up and fill those shoes.

Quarterback Denard Robinson has said that's something he's been working on during the spring.

"Being the quarterback, I had to take on that role," Robinson said via the Detroit News.

Other players that may step up to the plate include wide receiver Roy Roundtree or even safety Jordan Kovacs. It really doesn't matter which players take on this role, but it is a must for a team that expects to win the Big Ten and possibly a national championship. 

Who Starts at Left Guard?

Throughout the spring we kept hearing that fifth-year senior Elliott Mealer was finally going to get his chance to start on the offensive line, particularly at left guard. But once the spring game kicked off, we all noticed that a red-shirt sophomore and former walk-on was the starter and Mealer was on the sideline like he has been majority of his career.

Will things stay that way, or can Mealer seal the deal and lockup his position?

We'll have to wait until the fall for an answer.

Will Denard Robinson Take That Next Step?

In the spring we've heard all about Denard Robinson and how much more accurate he is with his throws and how it should pay off once the season begins.

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In his decisiveness in throws, he's made some really good throws, head coach Brady Hoke said via the Detroit News. I can't say I've seen him make a bad throw but maybe once or twice where you're going, 'What the heck was he looking at?' He's done a good job. (In) the mastering of the offense, he's a little better.

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Problem is that we only saw Robinson take seven snaps in the spring game and he only threw the ball three times. Obviously that's not nearly enough to get a good feel for his game and see if he is actually making progress.

Robinson is one of the most exciting players in college football, but he must increase last year's 55 percent completion percentage and cut back on the 26 interceptions he's thrown the last two seasons.