Michigan Football: 2019 depth chart projections ahead of fall camp

Defense/Special teams

Notable losses: It’s no secret that Michigan football will have to replace some NFL-caliber talent on its defense, including two first-round picks in Rashan Gary and Chase Winovich, as well as a pair of third-round picks in Chase Winovich and David Long. Former five-star recruit Aubrey Solomon also transferred to Tennesee, leaving the defensive line looking a little thin. Yet, there is still plenty of depth and talent for Don Brown and here is what the two-deep could look like.

DE: Kwity Paye, junior | Mike Danna, senior 

DT: Carlo Kemp, senior | Michael Dwumfour, senior; Donovan Jeter, junior

DE: Aidan Hutchinson, sophomore | Luiji Vilain, junior

EDGE: Josh Uche, senior | Mike Danna, senior 

On paper, Michigan might seem thin along the defensive line but they are better off than one might think. Josh Uche led the team in sacks a year ago with seven and the Wolverines added Mike Danna, a First-Team defensive end in the MAC a year ago as a graduate transfer. Paye and Hutchinson are also experienced at defensive end, but there isn’t any pass rusher as explosive as Winovich or Gary. The defense used a lot of three-man fronts last season and expect more of the same in 2019.

MLB: Josh Ross, junior | Cameron McGrone, sophomore

WLB: Devin Gil, senior | Jordan Anthony, junior 

Viper: Khaleke Hudson, senior | Jordan Glasgow, senior 

The Wolverines will shift between three and four linebackers and Uche will be the guy moving around a lot. Sometimes he will stand up, sometimes, he will be a rush end. However, three linebackers you should expect to see a lot are Josh Ross, Khaleke Hudson and Devin Gil. Ross will be taking over for Devin Bush and he should be the best player inside. Hudson will be looking to rebound after getting 7.5 sacks two years ago and Gil has improved his coverage skills, although he could be the linebacker sitting most in favor of a nickel back. Keep an eye on Cam McGrone, Jordan Anthony and also incoming freshman Anthony Solomon.

CB: Lavert Hill, senior | Vincent Gray, sophomore

CB: Ambry Thomas, junior | Vincent Gray, sophomore 

S: Josh Metellus, senior | J’Marick Woods, junior 

S: Daxton Hill, freshman | Brad Hawkins, junior 

Nickel: Daxton Hill, freshman |  Jaylen Kelly-Powell, junior 

The secondary is going to be really interesting to watch, especially with incoming five-star safety Daxton Hill making his debut. It’s hard to know exactly how the coaching staff will use him, but expect Hill to be on the field as much as possible. With his 4.3 speed, he could be ideally suited to the nickel role, yet I doubt the coaches want him on the field part-time, so he could be a safety in base looks, then bump down to the nickel in sub-packages. Lavert Hill is going to be an NFL draft pick, Metellus is solid and Ambry Thomas has been just biding his time. Vincent Gray, Brad Hawkins, J’Marick Woods and Jaylen Kelly-Powell all had good springs too.

KR: Ambry Thomas, junior

PR: Giles Jackson, freshman

K: Jake Moody, sophomore

P: Will Hart, senior

There could be some interesting battles at all four positions here during fall camp. Thomas scored a touchdown as a kickoff returner a season ago and has excelled in that role, however, he hasn’t been a starting corner before. It will be interesting to see if he and Donovan Peoples-Jones keep the kickoff and punt returner jobs. Someone like freshman Giles Jackson could likely handle both, giving two key players a rest. At kicker, there will be a battle between Jake Moody and Quinn Nordin, while the same thing could take place at punter between Will Hart and Brad Robbins.

Competition is never a bad thing and when you look at Michigan football, you see it up and down the roster heading into the 2019 season.