Michigan Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

Defensive Backs

Starting cornerbacks: Lavert Hill, David Long
Backups: Ambry Thomas, Keith Washington

Can you truly replace Jourdan Lewis and Channing Stribling and feel good about the immediate future of the secondary? In this case, yes. Although those were two players who helped engineer the top secondary in the country, sophomores Lavert Hill and David Long may have even higher ceilings. In fact, the coaching staff has been raving about both.

Although both had their redshirt burned in 2016, they have the talent to be NFL early entrants no matter if they’re redshirt sophomores or true juniors. Backing them up are talented Detroit-native freshman Ambry Thomas, a potential breakout star, and junior Keith Washington.

Starting safeties: Josh Metellus, Tyree Kinnel
Backups: Jordan Glasgow, Jaylen Kelly-Powell

There are also two new starters at the safety spots with sophomore Josh Metellus and junior Tyree Kinnel. The former played in nine games as a true freshman in 2016, recording 15 tackles and one sack while Kinnel had 14 takedowns and one for loss. Kinnel was a member of Harbaugh’s first recruiting class and he’s finally getting his chance to start. The talent is there for both of these young guys.

As mentioned earlier, Glasgow is expected to be in the two-deep at outside linebacker as well as safety. He stands 6-foot-1 and weighs in at 210 pounds, making him the ideal size to fit both spots. Talented incoming freshman Jaylen Kelly-Powell is pushing for snaps, and to avoid the redshirt, at free safety.