Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
5:02 pm
March 9, 2016
Offline
While every contributor on a roster occupies a specific role, a select group of Michigan football players are most important to the team achieving national success in 2016.
At each position, the Wolverines have a talent who—while not necessarily irreplaceable in each case—will carry the heaviest burden, is the most experienced player or can be used in a variety of ways.
Michigan needs a new quarterback, but one player boasts a significant amount of previous snaps. No matter if he starts, though, the offense returns two skill-position leaders from the 2015 team.
On both sides of the trenches, a veteran is switching to a new starting position to help the Wolverines adapt. And there’s simply no debating the players at linebacker and in the secondary.
The quarterback competition between John O’Korn and Wilton Speight is not settled. So, how come the former gets the nod?
Either O’Korn will be the starter, or the Wolverines have an experienced backup ready if Speight falters. Before transferring to Michigan, O’Korn started 16 games at Houston.
He certainly doesn’t lack confidence about earning the starting nod once fall camp arrives, per Nick Baumgardner of MLive:
We’ve all been here together, but you’ll find out Aug. 8 who put in the extra work and who was here at 6 a.m. and who was here the latest. Who grabbed a guy in the middle of the afternoon when they had a few hours to get some extra work in. I think that’ll all be very evident.
Although the running game was merely average last season, De’Veon Smith continued to stand out in an imperative area: Through 314 career carries, he’s never lost a fumble.
But Michigan absolutely wants more production from the senior. Smith topped the 100-yard mark, averaged five yards per attempt or recorded at least three first downs just three times in 2015.
Nevertheless, head coach Jim Harbaugh told WTKA Radio (h/t Detroit Free Press) that Smith is the “clear-cut starting tailback.”
Drake Johnson, Ty Isaac, Karan Higdon and Kareem Walker provide adequate depth, but somebody needs to emerge as the featured back. Smith will get the first shot.
Jehu Chesson is the explosive option in a pass-catching group that includes All-American tight end Jake Butt and Amara Darboh.
Last year, during the first six games, the speedster managed just 13 receptions and 132 yards. Chesson and quarterback Jake Rudock simply weren’t on the same page.
However, Chesson exploded after the slow start. He amassed 37 catches, 632 yards and nine scores throughout the final seven outings—including a 207-yard, four-touchdown day at Indiana.
Chesson gives Michigan a proven downfield threat to complement Butt and Darboh, a strong pair of short and intermediate targets.
Mason Cole burst onto the scene at Michigan, claiming a starting job at left tackle as a true freshman. He held down the edge again last season but is moving to center for the 2016 campaign.
Should anything happen to the offensive line—injury, suspension or anything else that keeps someone off the field—Cole could act as the unit’s Swiss Army knife.
“He’s a talented player,” Harbaugh said of Cole during practice, according to Baumgardner. “He can play tackle, guard or center. And he’s one of our top linemen.”
Hopefully for the Wolverines, Cole doesn’t need to move from center. Nevertheless, the junior is capable of making another switch.
Similar to Cole, the Wolverines can use Chris Wormley wherever the defensive line has a hole.
In 2015, he logged a pair of starts at end before opening nine games at tackle. Wormley registered 43 total stops with team-leading marks of 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
Thanks to Bryan Mone’s return and Maurice Hurst Jr.’s emergence, Michigan can slide the senior to a full-time role outside. Wormley will start opposite Taco Charlton and in front of 5-star recruit Rashan Gary.
Depth isn’t an issue on the defensive line, but Wormley can atone for at least one injury anyway.
Jabrill Peppers contributes on offense, defense and special teams, but the 6’1″, 208-pounder’s move to outside linebacker is critical for Michigan’s success this season. The unit might have been a glaring weakness without Peppers there.
In 2015, Peppers collected 45 tackles and 10 pass breakups while spending most of the season at nickelback. He’ll be more involved at the point of attack this year.
“He’s a really, really bright football player and a bright young man and can do a lot of things to help our football team,” defensive coordinator Don Brown said of Peppers, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. “And we’re going to push that to the limit.”
The hype surrounding Peppers will only grow as the campaign approaches, but he’s worthy of the attention.
Developing into a shutdown corner is immensely difficult, but second-team All-American Jourdan Lewis became exactly that in 2015.
According to ProFootballFocus, Lewis surrendered just 370 yards on 31 catches despite facing the eighth-most targets (85) in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Lewis broke up 20 passes—which set a Michigan record and was the third-most in the nation. He also snagged two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.
The Wolverines don’t need to worry about Lewis’ side of the field. That’s a massive luxury for any team, especially one with sights on a national championship.
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.
1 Guest(s)
