Shea Patterson
One of the biggest reasons for excitement around Ann Arbor this offseason was the arrival of Shea Patterson from Ole Miss. Michigan has not been strong at quarterback for some time. After Speight went down, people saw how shallow the talent was at quarterback for Michigan. John O’ Korn was not the answer and Brandon Peters showed some promise but never looked comfortable.
Patterson was the top quarterback recruit coming out of high school but missed time at the end of last year due to an injury. It remains to be seen if he’ll even be eligible to play this season, but no player will generate more headlines or carry as much intrigue as Patterson.
With Patterson, Michigan can win the Big Ten. Without Patterson, Michigan may be met with another similar year as last season.
Aubrey Solomon
Aubrey Solomon will have big shoes to fill at defensive tackle this season. The loss of Maurice Hurst to the NFL is a big one. Solomon saw limited time in 2017 as a freshman on a talented team but he will see increased time this season. The good news for Solomon is there is plenty of talent around him to his transition into the starting lineup easier. Devin Bush is back at linebacker while Chase Winovich and Rashan Gary return as defensive ends.
It is important for Solomon to have a strong spring game and claim that open roster spot heading into training camp. Solomon is the favorite for the position but there is plenty of talent behind him with players like Bryan Mone and Donovan Jeter looking to take his spot. Defensive coordinator Don Brown thrives off the strong play from his defensive line and linebackers that all starts with good play from defensive tackles.