Michigan Football: Early Offseason Priority List
Michigan had an excellent 2016 season under Jim Harbaugh’s watch. In Harbaugh’s second season, the Wolverines emerged as a legit College Football Playoff and Big Ten title contender, starting 9-0. But the year ended with an empty feeling and a 1-3 finish to the season.
A 14-13 final-play loss at Iowa, a 30-27 double-overtime loss at Ohio State and a 33-32 Orange Bowl loss to Florida State left the Wolverines with a 10-3 record. Harbaugh and Michigan fans have lofty goals, and work remains to accomplish them. And Michigan certainly enters the offseason with issues that must be resolved. Here’s a look at the early offseason priority list.
Close the Class of 2017 Strongly
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Michigan enters the final two weeks before national signing day in a very good position. The Wolverines have 27 commitments and are ranked No. 3 in Scout.com’s national team rankings, behind only Georgia and Alabama. But Jim Harbaugh’s staff could add as many as four signees by Feb. 1, when recruits are allowed to sign national letters of intent with their chosen programs.
Michigan is still trying to add talent along the defensive line, and one of the biggest targets is 5-star defensive tackle Aubrey Solomon, rated by Scout as the nation’s No. 20 overall player. Solomon is considering Alabama and Georgia along with Michigan, but if he winds up in the fold, it will be a huge get for the Wolverines.
The Wolverines would also love to add impact players at wide receiver. They have three current commitments, led by 5-star Donovan Peoples-Jones, who, as an early enrollee, is already on campus. But Pinson, Alabama, wide receiver Nico Collins would be an excellent addition as well. Michigan is also batting Georgia for Collins’ services, but if he winds up in Ann Arbor, it would be a major boost for an offense seeking difference-makers in the passing game.
Find Rashan Gary's Best Position
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Rashan Gary should be one of the nation’s top defensive line prospects this fall. The consensus top recruit in the Class of 2016 had a very promising freshman season, making 27 tackles, five tackles for loss and adding a sack. Much more will be expected of him this fall as he moves into the starting lineup.
But what is his best position? At 6’5”, 290 pounds, Gary can play either defensive end or defensive tackle. He figures to start at defensive end, but Michigan needs to weigh where he can make the biggest impact. When you have a talent like Gary, who's likely to spend only three years on campus, you must make certain to maximize his value.
Get the Early Enrollees Comfortable on Campus
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Freshmen enrolling early at their program of choice has become a major trend in college football, and Michigan is no different. Early enrollees will have a major impact on Michigan’s spring practice, with 11 freshmen already on campus and getting acclimated to college life and hoping to become major contributors this fall.
With top receivers Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson (who combined for 92 catches, 1,362 yards and nine touchdowns) both graduated, Michigan has opportunity in the passing game. One strong candidate to seize it? 5-star recruit Donovan Peoples-Jones, who has the skills, athleticism and game-changing speed to make an immediate impact, likely as a starter.
The Wolverines are also replacing 10 defensive starters, including all four secondary starters. There are capable options already established on campus, but several early enrollees will play a role in the back half of the defense this fall. At cornerback, Benjamin St-Juste and Ambry Thomas will have opportunities to prove themselves, while at safety, J’Marick Woods and Jaylen Kelly-Powell could wind up fitting in and make contributions at either spot.
Get Pep Hamilton Acclimated on Staff
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Jedd Fisch’s departure to become UCLA’s offensive coordinator was something of a surprise, but Jim Harbaugh made a very good hire in snagging Pep Hamilton away from the NFL’s Cleveland Browns to serve as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator while working alongside offensive coordinator Tim Drevno.
Harbaugh and Hamilton worked together at Stanford, and Hamilton brings a wealth of experience to the position, including working to develop Andrew Luck at Stanford and with the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. He is a respected offensive mind, but how will he fit into an established system?
"I would like to think we're going to play tough, smart Michigan style football and that's one of the many things that I've learned from coach Harbaugh over the years, that if you can control the line of scrimmage it's going to open big plays for you in the run and the passing game," Hamilton said in a Michigan-produced video, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press.
Getting him acclimated and comfortable in Ann Arbor and getting him ready to develop starter Wilton Speight and the rest of the quarterbacks on campus will be important as Michigan heads into spring drills.
Is Wilton Speight the Man at Quarterback?
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Wilton Speight had a very good first season as Michigan’s starting quarterback. Speight won a preseason battle for the job and kept it throughout the year, throwing for 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions while passing for 2,538 yards and completing 61.6 percent of his passes.
But consistency was an issue for Speight, who struggled at times down the stretch, throwing three touchdowns and four interceptions in his final three games, all three of which were Michigan defeats. Backup John O’Korn threw for 3,117 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a freshman at Houston, winning American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors. He pushed Speight hard in preseason and will do so again in spring practice.
Speight has the clear edge as the starting quarterback but won’t be able to rest on his laurels or coast if he hopes to keep the job, as Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com says the program will embrace competition.
Replace Jabrill Peppers in Multiple Positions
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Let’s make one thing clear: It will be impossible for Michigan to replace Jabrill Peppers with just one player. Peppers left the Wolverines following two full seasons (and a redshirt year) for the NFL draft, but his impact on Michigan’s roster all over the field is tough to quantify. He is a versatile, athletic star who contributed as a linebacker and defensive back, punt and kick returner, and even a receiver and tailback on offense. No single player can do everything he did; it will take a handful of pieces to do so.
Sophomore Josh Metellus will get the first shot on defense. He filled in at the “Viper” spot when Peppers sat out the Orange Bowl and performed very capably. He finished the season with 15 tackles and a sack and, like Peppers, could fit in as a safety or linebacker. Michigan also finished No. 8 nationally in punt returns, with Peppers averaging 14.8 yards per return. It won’t be as easy to fill the void he leaves as a special teams and offensive playmaker.
Replacing Tyrone Wheatley Sr. as Running Backs Coach
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Jim Harbaugh received a second staff vacancy to fill Monday when running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley Sr. left to become the Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach. Wheatley, a Michigan legend who enjoyed a good NFL career, did a solid job in the Michigan backfield, and his son, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., is expected to challenge for the starting tight end role this fall.
He leaves some uncertainty behind in the backfield. Leading rusher De’Veon Smith is gone, but sophomore Chris Evans (who averaged 7.0 yards per carry as a freshman) and junior Karan Higdon are expected to lead the way this spring.
Who will replace Wheatley? Land of 10’s Rachel Lenzi identified some intriguing candidates, including former Michigan running back Mike Hart, now a Syracuse assistant. Hey, if it worked with Wheatley, why not bring another Michigan man home to coach the backfield?
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