Michigan Football: Underclassmen with Best Chance to Earn Starting Spot in 2016

Most starters return for the Michigan football team in 2016, but a select group of underclassmen have the best chance to earn a starting role.

Vacated positions include quarterback, center, each linebacker spot and free safety. Otherwise, a young talent must beat out an established player to enter the lineup. Considering the returning starters, however, that's unlikely to happen.

The list does not include returning underclassmen starters like Jabrill Peppers—who received a medical redshirt in 2014 before opening 12 games last season—or Mason Cole. To be eligible, a player must be athletically classified as a junior or lower.

Bonus: Keep an eye on Quinn Nordin to replace Blake O'Neill as the punter.

5. Kareem Walker, Running Back

In 2015, the common expectation was for Derrick Green to finish recovering from his injury and swipe the starting spot from De'Veon Smith. However, that never happened.

Smith served as the lead runner while Drake Johnson regularly contributed, but fullback Sione Houma even registered some carries as the featured guy when Ty Isaac disappeared from the rotation.

Partly due to a shaky offensive line, though, no one demanded the starting job. Smith is the favorite, but it should be an open competition.

Who knows what will happen next season?

Kareem Walker, a 4-star prospect from New Jersey, enrolled early and told MLive.com's Nick Baumgardner, "I'm not riding that bench." During Walker's last three years in high school, he racked up 4,288 rushing yards and 51 touchdowns.

At worst, the Wolverines signed a talented prospect who will challenge for reps. At best, they found a new starter for a jumbled backfield.

4. Bryan Mone, Defensive Tackle

Leon Halip/Getty Images

Michigan has a solid group of defensive tackles coming back, most notably Ryan Glasgow at the nose spot. The unit also has a fair amount of depth since Bryan Mone should be available.

Last year, a broken ankle ended his campaign before it officially started. Mone was ready to return against Penn State, per Baumgardner, but the coaching staff elected to preserve the sophomore's redshirt.

Mone was supposed to factor into the rotation in 2015, so he should be a starting-caliber player. The question is if the Wolverines will slide Chris Wormley back out to defensive end, where he opened two games before starting nine at D-tackle.

That move could be a product of Mone (or redshirt junior Maurice Hurst Jr.) earning the nod. Otherwise, Michigan may use Wormley on the outside to protect depth behind Taco Charlton and a certain prospect.

3. Rashan Gary, Defensive Line

Oh right, that prospect. Top-rated recruit Rashan Gary gave his signature to the Wolverines, who could insert him into the starting lineup right away.

Although high expectations can be a dangerous thing, many recent 5-star defensive linemen—Robert Nkemdiche, Eddie Vanderdoes, Myles Garrett, etc.—immediately impacted their respective teams.

Like Mone, two factors will determine Gary's role. First, he could flat-out take a No. 1 job at end or tackle. Second, does the coaching staff want a four-man front to include Wormley, Glasgow, Mone (or Hurst) and Charlton with Gary and Matt Godin as top reserves?

Gary has the potential to convince defensive coordinator Don Brown an immediate starting spot is the right decision.

2. Wilton Speight, Quarterback

Barring madness, the next quarterback will be an underclassman. The problem? Michigan must survive madness to find that starter.

Top candidates include redshirt juniors Shane Morris and John O'Korn, redshirt sophomore Wilton Speight, redshirt freshmen Alex Malzone and Zach Gentry (unless the switch to tight end is permanent) as well as true freshman Brandon Peters.

O'Korn brings the most experience from his days at Houston, while Morris logged scattered appearances when Brady Hoke was still the head coach.

Then there's Speight, who initially handled garbage-time reps in 2015 to preserve Morris' redshirt before simply hopping him on the depth chart. Speight also engineered a game-winning drive at Minnesota.

Speight displays excellent touch and accuracy on passes, though velocity is a reasonable concern for now. We simply haven't seen enough throws to know what the coaching staff does, which makes Speight an intriguing option to battle O'Korn, the early favorite.

1. Devin Bush Jr., Linebacker

Credit: 247Sports

Devin Bush Jr.

Even if the Wolverines run a nickel-heavy (4-2-5) defense like last season—UM fans, go ahead and say "thank you" to Peppers for that—they still need another linebacker to complement Ben Gedeon.

Given the negligible amount of experience behind the senior, 4-star early enrollee Devin Bush Jr. is a leader in the chase. His main competition is Noah Furbush, and they might end up playing alongside each other in 4-3 alignments anyway.

True freshman Elysee Mbem-Bosse should also be a factor, but Bush holds an early edge because he's already on campus training and learning with the team.

Either way, Bush will contribute in 2016. Michigan surely wouldn't mind if he emerged as a three- or four-year starter.

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All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports. Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.