Michigan Football: Predicting the Depth Chart Heading into Fall Camp

Big Ten media days recently came to an end, which means that fall camp is right around the corner.

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a very successful season of winning 11 games and a BCS bowl in head coach Brady Hokes' first year. That team returns 14 starters from a year ago, including eight on the defensive side of the ball.

While that may seem like a lot of experience, this Wolverines team may look a little different than it did a season ago, due to suspensions, transfers and injuries.

Here is what the 2012 Michigan Wolverines' depth chart for the fall should look like.

Quarterbacks

Starter: Denard Robinson, Senior

Backup: Devin Gardner, Junior

While many teams are still trying to find their starting quarterback, there is no question who leads this Michigan Wolverines squad.

Denard Robinson has led the Wolverines in both passing yards and rushing yards the last two seasons. He has been working on his mechanics and decision-making during the offseason to make him a better overall passer. There is certainly no quarterback controversy with a potential Heisman candidate still on the roster.

Running Back

Starter: Vincent Smith, Senior

Backup: Thomas Rawls, Sophomore

With 1,000-yard rusher, Fitzgerald Toussaint suspended from the team for a recent DUI arrest, nobody is quite sure when he will be back. That makes Vincent Smith the likely starter until further notice.

He is a very small back at 5'6", 175 pounds but has a great deal of speed, who averaged six yards a carry last season on 50 touches. Hopefully for the Wolverines' sake, Toussaint can get his act together and get back onto the field.

Wide Receivers

Starter: Roy Roundtree, Junior

Backup: Jerald Robinson, Junior

Wide receiver is a position that the Wolverines are not very deep at, so Roundtree is expected to take on the role of the No. 1 wide receiver in 2012. He has the skill set to be a valuable part of this team and showed what he was capable of in 2010, hauling in 72 passes for 935 yards. He needs to step it up once again for this offense to be a bit more balanced.

Starter: Jeremy Gallon, Senior

Backup: Drew Dileo, Junior

It took a while for Gallon to get going, but he finished the 2011 season with 31 receptions for 453 yards and three touchdowns. He isn't the biggest receiver at 5'8'', but he gets off the line extremely quick and is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. With some much needed experience under his belt, Gallon should end up having an even bigger 2012.

Starter: Brandon Moore, Junior

Backup: Ricardo Miller, Junior

Moore was the backup tight end last season, who should see an expanded role in 2012. He finished the year with one reception for nine yards.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle

Starter: Taylor Lewan, Senior

Backup: Kristian Mateus, Junior 

Lewan is somebody you will soon see playing at the next level. He has tremendous size at 6'8" and 300 pounds, was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and is the most experienced offensive lineman with 22 career starts under his belt. He made the top 10 players to watch in the Big Ten list.

Left Guard

Starter: Elliott Mealer, Junior

Backup: Joey Burzynski, Sophomore

There is a tough competition between these two players for this position. As of right now, you have to give the nod to Mealer, he has the experience having played in 27 games throughout his career. However, I wouldn't count out Burzynski, who has had a terrific spring and has added on weight to enter a more productive role.

Center

Starter: Ricky Barnum, Junior

Backup: Jack Miller, Sophomore

Barnum will have the monster task of replacing Rimington Award winner David Molk. He is a versatile player, who has played both the left tackle and left guard positions. He only has three career starts under his belt.

Right Tackle

Starter: Michael Schofield, Senior

Backup: Graham Glasgow, Sophomore

Schofield provides the line with experience, having started 10 games last season at left guard. With the losses on the offensive line though, players are going to have to adjust to new positions. He will have big shoes to fill, having to replace former right tackle, Mike Huyge.

Right Guard

Starter: Patrick Omameh, Junior

Backup: Chris Bryant, Sophomore

Omameh has started 29 games at the right guard position, including every game during the last two seasons. Much like Lewan, Omameh is one of the few Wolverines on the offensive line that isn't a question mark heading into the season. He was an academic All-Big Ten last season.

Defensive Line

Defensive End

Starter: Brennen Beyer, Sophomore

Backup: Frank Clark, Freshman 

Beyer played in 11 games as a freshman last season and saw some time at linebacker and on special teams as well. He finished with 11 tackles, four of which came in the game against Iowa. With not many playmakers on the defensive line, the former 4-star recruit will be expected to produce right away.

Defensive Tackle

Starter: William Campbell, Senior

Backup: Richard Ash, Sophomore

If the defensive line is going to be effective, Campbell, a former 5-star recruit, must play better in 2012. He only has two sacks in his three-year career, which he will have to at least double in his senior season. The good news for Michigan fans is that he has lost weight and added speed, which should make him a better pass rusher.

Defensive Tackle

Starter: Jibreel Black, Junior

Backup: Quinton Washington, Junior

Black played in every game last season as a reserve defensive end, finishing the season with 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He has added over 15 pounds of weight during the offseason to move to the defensive tackle position. He is a former 4-star recruit who is known for his high motor and quickness of the ball.

Defensive End

Starter: Craig Roh, Senior

Backup: Nathan Brink, Senior

Craig Roh finished last season with 32 tackles and four sacks. He has beefed up for his new role at strong-side defensive end and will need to continue to generate pressure up front for the Wolverines.

Linebackers

Starter: Jake Ryan, Sophomore

Backup: Cameron Gordon, Senior

Ryan really stepped onto the scene his freshman season, racking up 37 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks. He is one of the best pass-rushers on the team, as he is relentless when it comes to making plays in the backfield. With some experience under his belt, Ryan will be the X-factor for this Michigan defense.

Starter: Kenny Demens, Senior

Backup: Joe Bolden, Freshman

Demens returns as the Wolverines' leading tackler last season, as he totaled 94. He has started 20 games at middle linebacker throughout his career, is arguably the best defensive player on the roster and is a candidate for this season's Lombardi Award. 

Starter: Desmond Morgan, Sophomore

Backup: Kaleb Ringer, Freshman

Morgan started seven games at outside linebacker as a freshman last season and finished with 63 tackles. Morgan is not the most athletic player in the world but has terrific instincts and is somebody who will give his all on every down.

Defensive Backs

Cornerback

Starter: Blake Countess, Sophomore

Backup: Raymon Taylor, Sophomore

Countess started six games as a freshman last season, racking up 44 tackles and breaking up six passes. He has the skill set to quickly become a shutdown corner and was somebody that got better as time went by.

Safety

Starter: Jordan Kovacs, Senior

Backup: Marvin Robinson, Junior

Kovacs is one of the leaders on the defensive side of the ball who has had to work his way to become a starter. He makes plays all over the football field, finishing last season with 75 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception.

Safety

Starter: Thomas Gordon, Junior

Backup: Jarrod Wilson, Freshman

Gordon started 10 games last season at free safety, finishing third on the team with 67 tackles. He isn't the biggest defensive player at 5'8" but is a tough-nosed player who has great speed and football instincts.

Cornerback

Starter: J.T. Floyd, Senior

Backup: Courtney Avery, Junior

Floyd is an experienced player, who has played in 31 games throughout his career and started 22 of them. He finished last year with 48 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up.

Specialists

Kicker

Starter: Brendan Gibbons, Junior

Backup: Matt Wile, Sophomore

Gibbons made 76 percent of his kicks last season, including 11-of-13 from inside 39 yards. His longest was a 42-yard kick, and he made 54 of 55 extra points. After horrifying kicking issues in 2010, there is no question Gibbons remains the starter in 2012.

Punter

Starter: Matt Wile, Sophomore

Backup: Will Hagerup, Junior

Wile only punted the ball 17 times last season but averaged 41.5 yards an attempt. Hagerup will have a chance to win his starting job back but must improve after last season's terrible efforts.