Michigan football enters the 2017 season with high expectations, but can the Wolverines replace 17 departing starters?
It’s not difficult to imagine Michigan football being back on top. The Wolverines had been a staple of the Big Ten’s elite for decades before Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke took over and struggled for nearly 10 years before giving way to Jim Harbaugh.
The outspoken, fiery head coach has put the Wolverines back on the map and with back-to-back 10-win seasons, it seems as if it’s only a matter of time before the titles start rolling in. Michigan has been recruiting at an elite level under the new head coach and he’s everything Wolverines fans have wanted from the man in charge, and more.
While the rest of college football is sometimes tired of Harbaugh’s antics, he gets the job done. He’s a winner and in just two seasons, he has a 20-6 record. Michigan is coming off a third place finish in the Big Ten East, but expectations are sky-high once again.
Harbaugh has recruited at a high level over the past two years and his guys are beginning to get an opportunity to showcase their abilities. With about 40 departing seniors and early entrants in the 2017 NFL Draft, Michigan is forced to replace about 17 starters from last season. Can they make it work?
Take a look at the complete 2017 season preview, along with a final record prediction, for the Wolverines.
Offense
While quarterback seems to be a slight concern, only because the starter has yet to be made clear, the offense is forced to replace seven starters last season, including both receivers and tight end.
However, the depth and talent at wide out is impressive. Incoming five-star freshman Donovan Peoples-Jones highlights the group and he has the potential to be the No. 1 target right away. He will be joined by sophomores Kekoa Crawford, Eddie McDoom and Nate Johnson who will all try to replace the production lost with Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson.
Running back will be set as well. Chris Evans returns as a potential breakout star. The speedy back needed to add some muscle this offseason, but it looks like he’s doing so. He rushed for 614 yards and four touchdowns as a true freshman. Former USC transfer Ty Isaac will back him up. Fullback will be led by touchdown-machine Khalid Hill — he reached the end zone 10 times on 25 attempts in 2016.
Jake Butt is also gone, leaving the tight end position open. Sophomore Tyrone Wheatley Jr. will be the likely starter. Ian Bunting has starting experience, but will be a capable backup.
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On the offensive line, the youth movement is evident.
While Mason Cole (center) and Patrick Kugler (left guard) are the two seniors leading the way, the rest of the unit is young. Junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty will start at right tackle while sophomores Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu will be the No. 1 left tackle and right guard, respectively. Solid unit.
A potential QB controversy?
How could there be a quarterback controversy if Wilton Speight is returning for his senior season as the second-year starter? Well, there are many fans who are clamoring for talented freshman Brandon Peters to get the rock to start the season.
After a strong spring, the redshirt freshman has closed the gap that was looming between himself and Speight. Although the Wolverines’ presumed starter passed for 2,538 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2016, there are doubts about his potential compared to Peters’.
Michigan can’t go wrong either way, though. If the Wolverines go with Speight, they will have a senior leader and strong vocal presence under center. If they pick the former blue-chip recruit in Peters, they will have a kid with an electric arm, and accuracy to boot, who has an extremely high ceiling.
Expect Speight to be the No. 1 guy come Week 1.
Defense
Michigan is replacing 10 starters on the defensive side of the ball for 2017 and that’s a major reason for concern in Ann Arbor.
Senior outside linebacker Mike McCray is the only returning starter and he’s a good one. He finished second on the team in tackles last season with 73 as well tackles for loss, with 13.5. He added 4.5 sacks, two interceptions and six pass breakups to his impressive line. He will be joined by talented sophomores Devin Bush Jr., at middle linebacker, and Khaleke Hudson.
The linebackers will be relatively young, but what about the defensive line? Rashan Gary could be one of the nation’s top defensive ends as a sophomore. The former blue-chipper from New Jersey had 23 tackles, five for loss and 0.5 sacks last season, but expect him to break out. Junior Chase Winovich will likely get the nod at the other end spot. He had 32 tackles, 8.5 for loss and five sacks in 2016.
At the tackle spots, junior Bryan Mone and senior Maurice Hurst take over. The latter is a potential All-Big Ten candidate after putting up 33 tackles, 11.5 for loss and five sacks in 2016.
Don’t sleep on the young guys in the rotation, either. Donovan Jeter, Michael Dwumfour, Aubrey Solomon, Carlo Kemp and James Hudson can all contribute early and often.
Completely replacing 2016’s No. 1 secondary
How do you adequately replace a secondary that ranked No. 1 against the pass in all of college football a season ago? Easy answer: it’s not easy.
Michigan’s biggest worry has to be on the defensive side of the ball, namely the defensive backfield. Replacing four starters is never easy, especially when each had such a lasting impact on the program and engineered a dominant secondary for years.
Gone is Jourdan Lewis as well as Delano Hill, Channing Stribling and Jabrill Peppers, who was sort of a linebacker hybrid. Who is back to replace those stars?
Lavert Hill is a former blue-chip cornerback recruit from Detroit who is expected to win a starting job and fellow sophomore David Long looks to be the favorite on the other side. Josh Metellus, also a sophomore, will anchor the strong safety spot and junior Tyree Kinnel will take over free safety. The talent is there, as is the young depth.
Growing pains will happen with this young, inexperienced unit, but the potential to be great is evident.
2017 schedule
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
| 1 | Sept. 2 | vs. Florida | Arlington, Texas |
| 2 | Sept. 9 | vs. Cincinnati | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | vs. Air Force | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | at Purdue | West Lafayette, Ind. |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | BYE WEEK | |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | vs. Michigan State | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| 7 | Oct. 14 | at Indiana | Bloomington, Ind. |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | at Penn State | University Park, Penn. |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | vs. Rutgers | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | vs. Minnesota | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | at Maryland | College Park, Md. |
| 12 | Nov. 18 | at Wisconsin | Madison, Wisc. |
| 13 | Nov. 25 | vs. Ohio State | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
Honestly, this schedule is favorable for the Wolverines. If fans are worried about the youth holding Michigan back, they can just take a quick glance at the home and away slots. That should immediately ease their minds.
In fact, the Wolverines get their two biggest rivals, Ohio State and Michigan State, at home and their toughest non-conference game, Florida, is at a neutral site. Plus, Michigan fans travel well, so that might seem like a home game for the Wolverines despite being all the way down in Arlington, Texas.
Penn State and Wisconsin present the toughest road matchups for the Wolverines and there’s a good chance the Nittany Lions and Badgers could exact revenge for 2016 losses.
On the other hand, Maryland, Rutgers, Indiana and Purdue should all be sure wins for Michigan, padding their record in conference play. Cincinnati and Air Force shouldn’t present too much of a test for the Wolverines out of conference, either. Although the Falcons could give Michigan a tough early test on defense — they like to run.
Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017
Prediction: 9-3 (6-3 Big Ten)
It’s easy to say this team will take care of business at home this season and there are only two road games that will cause some trouble, but you can’t sleep on rivalry contests. Despite getting both Michigan State and Ohio State at home, anything can happen in those rivalry games. Plus, Florida at a neutral site isn’t going to be easy. Michigan, in my mind, will lose to both Penn State and Wisconsin on the road and at home against Ohio State. Not bad for a young team.