Michigan Football: 3 Most Important Players for the Wolverines in 2012

The Michigan Wolverines are this close to entering national championship talks.

Brady Hoke's squad went 11-2 last year, beat a very good Virginia Tech squad in the Sugar Bowl and returns plenty of important pieces in 2012.

Here's a look at the most integral players for Michigan returning to the Top 5 this season. 

Denard Robinson, QB

Some might argue Robinson doesn't belong on this list because everyone in the nation knows about him as a legitimate Heisman candidate, and everyone knows he will be good. Therefore, he's not as important to an increase in wins for Michigan. 

Nonetheless, he belongs here.

The Wolverines will go as far as Robinson's athletic little legs will take him, as he is easily Michigan's most dynamic player on the ground.

However, it will be important for Robinson to improve in the passing game, where he completed just 55 percent of his passes last year. If he becomes more balanced on offense, Michigan will be almost impossible to stop.  

Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB

If Toussaint, who rushed for 1,041 yards last season, can take yet another step forward in 2012, he and Robinson are going to be an extremely dangerous running duo.

Defenses might just have to put 10 or 11 in the box to assure stopping both of Michigan's 1,000-yard rushers.

OK, it won't be that bad, but with Toussaint dominating out of the backfield, things will get much easier for Robinson through the air. 

Kenny Demens, MLB

Not only is Demens arguably the best defensive player on this team, he is the all-important senior leader in the middle.

Michigan's secondary has a lot of talent and depth, but the defensive line still needs a bit of work, especially after the departure of Mike Martin, Will Heininger and Ryan Van Bergen.

Demens will take pressure off the line by making plays in the backfield, but he'll also rack up tackles sideline-to-sideline. 

Follow @t_keen