2019 Big Ten football spring preview: 7 biggest questions – Finally Jim Harbaugh’s year?

3. Who replaces all of the Michigan’s departed players?

The Michigan Wolverines will have some depth chart questions of their own to attend to. Though their quarterback position is more than secure thanks to the announced retention of Shea Patterson, who elected to finish out his college career rather than declare for the NFL, the Wolverines have other positions to look for replacements in as they look for a birth in the College Football Playoff.

Michigan’s defense lost a lot of talent at the end of this year thanks to graduations and declarations for the NFL draft. Linebacker Devin Bush and defensive end Chase Winovich were among those selected to AP All-American teams, as second and third team selections, respectively. They make up a big part of the Wolverines defense that terrorized Big Ten offenses this year, and their losses will be felt.

Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines also lost Rashan Gary to the NFL this year and this team, which fell apart in their last two games of the season, loses yet another top player.

Michigan returns standout-players like Josh Uche and Khaleke Hudson in the front seven of their line-up, as well as players like Lavert Hill and Josh Metellus in the secondary. Defensive Coordinator Don Brown has a lot to make up for with the absences mentioned above, but with a deep team full of young talent thanks to a high-tier recruiting system, they should be able to find replacements.

This spring will be the first step in the process of replacing these key players. While Devin Bush and guys like him will be waiting for their names to be called in the NFL Draft in April, Harbaugh and Brown will be looking to re-load headed into a season where they’ll look to make their mark, landing a top spot in the country by the end of 2019.