Michigan Football: 5 Players Who Will Decide Wolverines Season

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a great 2011 season where they went 11-2 and captured a win in the Sugar Bowl.

Now they find themselves among the powerhouses in college football.

Head coach Brady Hoke has done a great job revitalizing the team and hopes are high for the Wolverines in 2012—anything less than double-digit wins would be a disappointment.

Coaching can only go so far though. The players will have to perform on the field if they hope to have a successful season.

The road won't be easy either. The Wolverines face current NCAA champion Alabama in Week One.

The team also has Notre Dame, Nebraska, Michigan State and rival Ohio State on the schedule.

There is a lot of talent on the Wolverines roster, including an early Heisman Trophy candidate.

Here are five Wolverines who have to perform well if the team hopes to go back to a BCS game.

Fitzgerald Toussaint

2011-12 Season Stats

187 rushes

1041 yards

10 total touchdowns

The Wolverines had the 13th ranked running game in the country last year.

1,000-yard back Fitzgerald Toussaint played a big role for the Wolverines in that running game, and figures to again in 2012.

Toussaint is Michigan's most experienced running back and had 100 more carries than any other back on the roster.

Toussaint made headlines this offseason when he was arrested for a DUI. His status for the season opener and beyond is still in the air, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he was in street clothes for at least a game or two.

When Toussaint is on the field, he will be a difference maker—he just needs to be on the field to make a difference.

J.T. Floyd

2011-12 Season Stats

48 total tackles 

3 interceptions

1 forced fumble

Fifth-year senior J.T. Floyd will be providing leadership on the defense from his cornerback spot.

His 48 tackles and eight pass breakups led the Wolverines cornerbacks.

Michigan ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring defense (17.4 points per game) and fourth in total defense (322.2 yards per game).

Floyd is excited to be back for his senior year and knows the expectations are high. In an interview from mgoblue.com, Floyd said: 

"

Being around all of the great people here, I just couldn't see myself not being here for my senior year. Our team still has work to do and places to go, and I want to be a part of it.

"

Taylor Lewan

Offensive lineman Taylor Lewan has had a great career at Michigan. Last year, Lewan started every game at the left tackle spot for the Wolverines.

With a mobile quarterback, having athletic tackles who can get downfield to block are key—Lewan fits the bill.

The 6'8" offensive lineman was one of 10 players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch list by the conference. He was also named to national watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award.

He earned All-Big Ten second-team honors last season.

Lewan and the rest of his offensive line, produced two 1,000 yard rushers and allowed only 18 sacks last season. They will have to be big again for the Wolverines in 2012.

Roy Roundtree

2011-12 Season Stats

19 receptions

355 yards

2 touchdowns

Roy Roundtree saw his numbers plummet in 2011. However, he is still expected to be the leading receiver for the Wolverines in 2012.

That spot on the field may be in jeopardy, at least in Week 1.

Roundtree had arthroscopic knee surgery last week and is expected to be out two weeks.

If Roundtree misses the teams opener against the Alabama Crimson Tide, his presence will be noticeably missed. The team has very little depth at wide receiver and have even toyed with the idea of putting backup quarterback Devin Gardner out wide.

The lack of depth makes it paramount that Roundtree has a solid year. Denard Robinson will be getting a lot of hype and Roundtree will be his No.1 option.

If he fails to impress, so will Robinson. If Robinson doesn't impress, the team won't win games.

Simple.

Denard Robinson

2011-12 Season Stats

2,173 yards passing

1,176 yards rushing

36 total touchdowns

The Michigan Wolverines will go as Denard Robinson does in 2012.

Last year Robinson led the team in both passing and rushing yards; and is already gaining Heisman Trophy hype.

"Shoelace" is electric on the gridiron—even President Barack Obama and LeBron James have said they are fans of the senior quarterback.

Robinson is a huge reason why the Wolverines are ranked No. 8 in the Associated Press poll. He is the Michigan offense.

Robinson knows that he will have to be even better in 2012 if the Wolverines hope to be BCS-bound for a second consecutive year.

"Year Two in the offense, I’m making some growth and I’m trying to get better every day," Robinson said in an interview with the Boston Herald. "I always feel like I have room to improve."

Michigan's Week 1 matchup against Alabama may be the toughest game of the year for the Wolverines. It should give fans a forecast of how 2012 will play out for Robinson and the Wolverines.

Will Robinson be holding the Heisman Trophy and a BCS crystal ball at years end? Only time will tell.

The Wolverines kickoff the season on September 1 at home against Alabama.