Michigan Football: Top Candidates for Wolverines' Open Starting Jobs

Michigan has taken the plunge into spring, so finding replacements for six of its top departed starters is of the utmost importance.

On Tuesday, first-year Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh gave a brief and fuzzy update on recent events. Then again, he only had one practice to reference, so he really didn’t have much to talk about.

He knows that he has to replace quarterback Devin Gardner, but he doesn’t know with whom.

He’ll have to find someone to take wide receiver Devin Funchess’ spot as well, but again, Harbaugh doesn’t know which player will end up doing so. It’s just too early to make that call.

Due to the departure of Frank Clark and Brennen Beyer, Michigan is now looking for a pair to bookend the defensive line. And now that Ray Taylor’s gone, there’s a hole to fill in the secondary too.

Finding the next Jake Ryan could take time, but there are enough linebackers to bridge the gap.

Replacing two offensive weapons and four defensive starters should be relatively painless for Harbaugh, who—relatively speaking—has it easy when compared to other coaches around the Big Ten.

Michigan State’s Mark Dantonio and Ohio State’s Urban Meyer lost a lot of talent to the NFL draft pool and graduation, so they’ll be seeking to replenish their wells this spring as well. And they need to do a lot more than tinker with a few positions.

The spring game is on April 4, which means Harbaugh has roughly a month to get his ducks in a row before the real test comes this fall. Time is of the essence, and Harbaugh has none to waste.

Who’s the Next QB?

Wilton Speight, Shane Morris and Alex Malzone seem to be the top three candidates to replace Gardner, but Harbaugh wouldn’t hint either way during his media availability on Tuesday.

The best one will win the job, which is the case for every position.

Morris, a former Warren De La Salle star, has the experience card, but Speight, who’ll be a redshirt frosh this fall, has become a more popular pick among fans and media. The 6’6”, 234-pounder out of Richmond Collegiate (Virginia) has an arm that can wow the masses and possesses ideal size.

Morris’ two starts and time in the program are pluses, but they’re not enough to guarantee him the job.

As for Malzone, well, the idea of a true freshman starting at quarterback is almost ridiculous. That’s not Michigan’s style, so it’s highly unlikely that the 6’1.5”, 200-pounder out of Birmingham Brother Rice gets the nod—unless, of course, he blows the doors off the competition this spring.

Zach Gentry arrives this fall, but the 6’7”, 230-pounder out of Albuquerque Eldorado (New Mexico) will face the same set of circumstances as Malzone, and the lack of reps this spring could put him behind the pace—at least for this year.

Today, until someone says otherwise, Morris and Speight are top two. Speight could be the one to emerge and earn the No. 1 role. The spring game will decide that.

Replacing Funchess

Losing Funchess isn’t a killer, but it doesn’t make matters easier for the Wolverines, who have just three receivers returning with 15 more catches.

One of the pass-catchers is tight end Jake Butt, who is also rehabbing an ACL injury.

At 6’6” and 250 pounds, Butt could theoretically fill the void of No. 1 target left by Funchess. His size makes him the obvious successor in the weaponry department.

As far as pure receivers go, Amara Darboh is the successor to the No. 1 role. That’s different than being the No. 1 target, which will probably end up being Butt’s duty.

Darboh has hands, but the 6’2”, 216-pound redshirt-junior-to-be lacks elite speed. However, he can absorb contact, grab and go over the middle and fly down the sideline for the deep ball.

Michigan has a stable of receivers who are 6’2”, 200 pounds or heavier: Jehu Chesson, Jaron Dukes, Maurice Ways and early enrollee Brian Cole could each at least compete for the primary role.

Nothing is set in stone at any position, Harbaugh said on Tuesday.

The Bookends

Jay LaPrete/Associated Press/Associated Press

Taco Charlton, Mario Ojemudia, Henry Poggi and Chris Wormley are arguably the top four ends heading into spring ball.

Charlton, a 6’6”, 273-pound junior-to-be, has appeared in 21 games during his time in Ann Arbor. His praises had been sung by former coach Brady Hoke for two years, so it’s time that he emerges as the potential impact player everyone expects.

That should be easier now that Clark and Beyer are out of the picture.

Ojemudia has been an unheralded cog of the defense. The 6’3”, 252-pound senior-to-be has seen action in 33 games, but he’s started just thrice.

This spring is crucial for the former Farmington Hills Harrison star, as he’s in danger of being surpassed by the likes of Poggi, who was supposed to be one of the gems of Hoke’s 2013 class. However, the 6’4”, 273-pounder redshirted that year and has played in just six games.

Wormley’s been in the mix for two years, and he’s a player whom D-line coach Greg Mattison absolutely loves. At 6’5” and 300 pounds, the soon-to-be junior seems like a better fit for the inside. But an offseason of conditioning could reveal a leaner, faster Wormley who’d better serve as an end than a tackle.

It all depends on Mattison and new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. They’ll run a mix of the 4-3 and 3-4, so Wormley could easily slide inside and outside.

This past season, Beyer had 5.5 sacks and Clark had 4.5. Mattison and Durkin have enough knowhow and resources to manufacture at least 10 sacks from the DE position this fall. Replacing Beyer and Clark’s numbers shouldn’t be too tough of a task.

Step up for Ryan

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Ryan’s senior year left a little to be desired, but he still managed to finish second in the Big Ten with 112 tackles. He averaged 1.17 tackles for a loss, the fifth-best mark in the conference, and consistently found a way to influence nearly every play on the field.

He played both inside and outside linebacker during his four-year tenure.

While in the middle, Ryan was often one of the first to meet the ball-carrier. His speed—he ran an impressive 4.65-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine—allowed him to make life difficult for tight ends and receivers too.

As it was last year, the linebacker position could end up being one of the most competitive during workouts. That’s not a bad thing, either.

Joe Bolden, a senior-to-be, stands out as Ryan’s successor. At 6’3” and 232 pounds, he packs a punch. However, he must improve on wrapping up running backs. That was one of his weaknesses in 2014.

Desmond Morgan will return for a fifth year, so it’s fair to assume that he’ll be a guy to beat. The 6’1”, 236-pounder has 31 starts to his credit, making him ideal to assume the lead role in Ryan’s absence.

Peppers for Ray

If not for a lower leg/ankle injury, Jabrill Peppers would have been the starting nickelback for the Wolverines. He would have also started at corner—and wherever else he wanted, really.

The 6’1”, 205-pounder is fully healthy now, evidenced by a recent spree of backflips, so it’s safe to assume that he’ll get Taylor’s job—or take someone else’s job. Either/or.

Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes were obtained firsthand by the writer via press conference, press release or other media availability. Stats were pulled from Michigan’s ESPN team page, MGoBlue.com and BigTen.org. Recruiting info via 247Sports.