Numerous draft picks and departing seniors later, is Michigan football losing too much to contend for titles in 2017?
Jim Harbaugh has done a fantastic job with Michigan. Although his doubters and Big Ten opponents are still clamoring about two straight third-place finishes in the Big Ten East for Michigan football, he’s put the Wolverines back on the map with back-to-back 10-win seasons.
Michigan had 11 players selected in the 2017 NFL Draft and lost 43 seniors from a team in 2016 that finished 10-3 with three defeats by three points or less. The Wolverines were just a few plays away from finishing the year undefeated with a trip to the Big Ten title game and maybe even the College Football Playoff.
Are those 43 departing players and 11 draft picks too much of a loss for the Wolverines to overcome in 2017? The easy answer would be yes, but the Wolverines are bringing in top recruiting classes from 2015 as well as 2016, pacing the Harbaugh era of recruiting in Ann Arbor.
Returning junior Wilton Speight will be key along with running back Chris Evans. Although guys like Amara Darboh, Jehu Chesson and Jake Butt are now fighting for spots on NFL rosters, Speight will have elite threats such as Donovan Peoples-Jones, Eddie McDoom and Kekoa Crawford to pass to. Don’t forget Tyrone Wheatley Jr. who is on the preseason John Mackey Award watch list — the nation’s top tight end honor.
The defense is the main area of concern for the Wolverines, though, and will be the main reason they do, or don’t, contend for the Big Ten title in 2017.
In fact, the Wolverines return just one starter in linebacker Mike McCary. Gone are Jabrill Peppers, Jourdan Lewis, Taco Charlton and Chris Wormley from the No. 1 defense in the country. Who will replace them? There’s no shortage of talent such as talented sophomore cornerbacks Lavert Hill and David Long — both could be absolute stars.
On the defensive line, Rashan Gary looks to be one of the best defensive ends in the country as a sophomore and Maurice Hurst is aiming for a monster senior year. Don’t sleep on freshmen Aubrey Solomon, Carlo Kemp, Michael Dwumfour and Donovan Jeter.
Devin Bush Jr. and Khaleke Hudson are two more talented sophomore linebackers that should crack the starting lineup while Josh Metellus, Jordan Glasgow and Jaylen Kelly-Powell are three underclassmen who could all push for time at safety. The youth is there, but the experience is not.
Next: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Way-too-early edition
If you’re looking for Michigan to win the Big Ten title in 2017, you may be disappointed as the young team will likely contend for the East, but finish in second or third with 9-10 wins. However, 2018 will be the year the Wolverines truly compete for a national title.