Michigan Football: Projecting Who Will Win Wolverines' Open Starting Positions
Michigan returns a veteran roster in 2016, but the Wolverines need to fill eight total starting positions.
While the offense must replace the quarterback and center—perhaps the two most important spots—the defense brings back a majority of its production on the line and in the secondary.
Despite a fair bit of turnover, though, Michigan has clear-cut starters at each vacancy except one. The problem? That position carries the greatest responsibilities on the team.
For Jim Harbaugh's team to reach its championship potential, the new—yet often recognizable—starters must excel.
Quarterback
1 of 8
Previous Starter: Jake Rudock
Projected Starter: Wilton Speight
The only true unknown is at quarterback, where Wilton Speight and John O'Korn have separated themselves from Shane Morris.
Harbaugh, quite simply, will divulge as little as possible about the competition. Like 2015, we might not know the starter until he comes out for the first drive in the season opener.
Although Speight put up better numbers during the spring game, he opposed most of the backups, while O'Korn faced the first-stringers. Plus, it was the spring game. It doesn't really matter.
What does, however, is his experience running Harbaugh's system. Speight jumped Morris on the depth chart last year and led a game-winning drive at Minnesota.
Still, O'Korn started 16 games at Houston and has more mobility. It won't be shocking if he secures the job.
Center
2 of 8
Previous Starter: Graham Glasgow
Projected Starter: Mason Cole
Michigan's offensive line returns four pieces, but one—Mason Cole—is occupying a new position. A two-year starter at left tackle, Cole is moving to center as Graham Glasgow's replacement.
"He's a talented player," Harbaugh said, according to Nick Baumgardner of MLive. "He can play tackle, guard or center. And he's one of our top linemen."
Grant Newsome is expected to replace Cole, who earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten status last season.
Defensive End
3 of 8
Previous Starter: Willie Henry
Projected Starter: Chris Wormley
Chris Wormley opened a couple games at defensive end before moving inside last year. So he's hardly a new starter.
In 2015, the 6'5", 303-pounder accumulated a team-best 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Wormley totaled 43 tackles, adding two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller recognized Wormley as a first-round-caliber talent.
Bryan Mone, Maurice Hurst Jr. and Ryan Glasgow are early favorites to handle the two starting spots on the inside.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Defensive End
4 of 8
Previous Starter: Mario Ojemudia/Royce Jenkins-Stone
Projected Starter: Taco Charlton
D.J. Durkin's defense utilized a Buck linebacker, a hybrid role off the edge. The position is simply a defensive end in 2016.
Mario Ojemudia and Royce Jenkins-Stone used up their eligibility, leaving Taco Charlton as the top returner. As a junior, he was a key contributor for the Wolverines. Charlton finished third on the team with 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press noted that defensive coordinator Don Brown was impressed with Charlton this spring. That shouldn't change in the fall.
Outside Linebacker
5 of 8
Previous Starter: Joe Bolden
Projected Starter: Mike McCray
Joe Bolden served as the weak-side inside linebacker, but the move to Brown's 4-3 defense created a true outside linebacker spot.
The linebacking corps is undeniably thin. Fortunately for Michigan, Mike McCray might finally be healthy.
"You're just keeping your fingers crossed that everything will keep going well for him," Harbaugh said, per Baumgardner. "He's been hampered by some injuries during his career, but hopefully now's the time the tumblers are right and it'll keep going well for him. I'm thinking a lot about that. But he's doing extremely well."
McCray has just two career tackles. But with a 6'4", 240-pound frame and a limited history due more to injuries than improper development, McCray could be the defense's breakout star in 2016.
Middle Linebacker
6 of 8
Previous Starter: Desmond Morgan
Projected Starter: Ben Gedeon
Depth and experience at linebacker is lacking overall, but Ben Gedeon is the lone—well, kind of—exception. After recording 36 tackles in 2013 and 2014 combined, he notched 34 last season.
Once the 2015 campaign officially ended, Gedeon was the only sure thing for Michigan's linebacking corps. Still, it wasn't ridiculous to wonder whether or not he was truly prepared for a major role.
That question seemed to be emphatically answered during the spring. "I think Ben Gedeon is a stud," Harbaugh said, according to Josh Newkirk of Scout.
Michigan will rely on that stud to dominate the middle of the field.
Outside Linebacker
7 of 8
Previous Starter: James Ross III
Projected Starter: Jabrill Peppers
Gedeon was the lone exception to Michigan having little experience at linebacker, until Jabrill Peppers moved to the strong-side role.
According to Michael Spath of Rivals, Brown said Peppers spent 70 percent of spring practice at Sam linebacker, but that will only increase as the regular season approaches.
In the past, the Wolverines would send in a substitute for Ross when changing to a nickel defense. With Peppers now occupying the spot, the only thing that will change is the play call.
Peppers—who registered 45 tackles with 5.5 for loss and 10 pass breakups in 2015—will be an outside linebacker and a nickelback. But the deceptive part? Opposing offenses might not know which one until after the ball is snapped.
Free Safety
8 of 8
Previous Starter: Jarrod Wilson
Projected Starter: Dymonte Thomas
Dymonte Thomas and Delano Hill competed with each other to start at strong safety last season. In 2016, they'll share the last line of defense.
According to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press, Thomas said they are responsible for making the checks and calls: "Me and Delano are excited about that because it's up to us. It's up to us. It's our defense, not just mine or his. It's our defense. It's a team defense. It's great getting people lined up, communicating. It's just a beautiful thing."
Thomas will step in at free safety and replace Jarrod Wilson, who collected at least 50 tackles during each of the last three seasons.
All recruiting information via 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.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
