Michigan football: 5 Wolverines poised for breakout seasons in 2020
Michigan football would benefit greatly from these players breaking out.
When head coach Jim Harbaugh returned to his alma mater with the hope of guiding Michigan football back to the promised land, it wasn’t hard to buy into. But now that the Wolverines are winless against rival Ohio State and have not sniffed the College Football Playoff under Harbaugh, there are more doubters than believers in Ann Arbor or otherwise.
Though that may be the case, an objective observer may start to buy into the Wolverines as they head into the 2020 season. This team may not have the hype at the same level as others before them but that may also work to their advantage. Because Michigan is good enough to compete with most teams in the country.
If the Wolverines are going to finally get close to expectations, though, they’ll need some key players to step up. These five Michigan football players are in position to have big-time breakout seasons in 2020.
Michigan football breakout candidate No. 5: Dylan McCaffrey or Joe Milton, QB
At no point in Jim Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan has quarterback not been a massive question mark. So it only makes sense that, entering perhaps the most important season in the head coach’s time with his alma mater, those questions are persisting after the departure of Shea Patterson, who was the starter for the last two years.
Patterson doesn’t leave particularly big shoes to fill but there is still uncertainty about who will be the guy to step into the starting role. The two leading — meaning the most likely — candidates in that capacity are Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton. What’s interesting about the two signal-callers, though, is that what we’ve seen and know about both players is on opposite ends of the spectrum.
In the case of McCaffrey, he’s seen some spot duty over the past two seasons but has done more as a rusher from the position as a passer with more career rushing attempts than completions to this point. Meanwhile, Milton is known more for his passing ability and potential in that capacity. So it could come down to what type of player Harbaugh wants or even a timeshare.
No matter who does it, though, McCaffrey and Milton are being slept on a bit. Both are talented young players with the ability to make plays and there isn’t the pressure on them that was put on Patterson when he transferred from Ole Miss. To me, that clears the path for either player, whoever takes the most snaps, to really catch people off guard with an impressive 2020 campaign.