Most Important Players for Michigan in 2019 (by position)
In case you missed it, I put my annual roster rankings for the 2019 season.
QB - Shea Patterson - Well, this is a no-brainer. Patterson, the returning starter, was one of the top-rated passers in the nation last year. He was also the most productive quarterbacks the team has had since Denard Robinson, but with a better winning percentage. Nothing more needs to be said. In regards to the backups, getting Dylan McCaffrey back is huge. He should be the top guy off the bench as he was before he broke his collarbone against Wisconsin. Overall, this position group is in great shape for the foreseeable future.
RB - Zach Charbonnet - Charbonnet is being counted on by Harbaugh and company to come help carry the load immediately as a freshman. And with his measurables and relative success at a high level of high school football, it is easy to put such lofty hopes on the kid. He is a borderline 5-Star prospect, so it would be a blessing if he showed up and filled the empty spot left by Karan Higdon (and Chris Evans?). I know it's a lot to ask, but the scenario seems too perfect. The team is loaded at quarterback, receiver, and along the offensive line for the first time in over a decade. The defenses Michigan will face will have a lot on their minds. There is a bevy of young talent vying for carries at running back this spring, but none of them seem like real starting material quite yet. Christian Turner is a name that has been popping up, and Tru Wilson gained a lot of experience in 2018, but neither guy appears to have a ceiling as high as Charbonnet's when you compare raw athletic talent and ability. Mind you, Michigan has not had very good luck with highly rated running backs. The last three or four guys that the team signed here that were rated as 5-Star level talent totally flopped in Ann Arbor. At least one of them was a Harbaugh recruit. 3-Star guys like Karan Higdon and Mike Hart quickly come to mind as lower ranked guys that put together much better careers at Michigan. Hart is the only one ever that truly blew up as a freshman. I mean, he rushed for damn near 1500 yards. Now I'm not saying Charbonnet needs to or is even capable of putting together a season like that, because the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. It would just be nice to see him contribute. Honestly, if he can just come in and learn to pass block effectively I would be extremely happy. Any kind of threat with the ball out of the backfield would be a bonus.
WR - Tarik Black - At first I had Donovan Peoples-Jones here. Then I had him paired with Nico Collins, sharing the spot as MIP at receiver. Nobody could've argued with me. Ultimately though, I feel Black is actually just as big of a key to the team's offensive success in 2019 as anybody. He was the team's best receiver as soon as he stepped on the field as a true freshman two years ago. He is now primed to play third fiddle in what could be one of the most dangerous trio of receivers in the nation after missing most of the last two years due to injuries. If he comes back strong and shows those abilities that he has flashed when healthy, there might not be a nickel or dime back out there in the Big Ten that could cover him one on one.
TE - Nick Eubanks - Eubanks led the team in yards per catch and made some crucial plays down the stretch as the team's third tight end. He should pick up the slack after Zach Gentry bolted for the NFL. If he doesn't, this position could be in a world of hurt. Sean McKeon has made more of a name for himself as a blocker than a receiver, but he does have potential. Mustapha Muhammad is another talented youngster to keep an eye on after he redshirted his freshman season. He was the team's top target they signed in 2018. True freshman Erik All has potential too, but I expect him to mostly sit out and redshirt in his first season on campus. Very few players rose up the rankings as much as All did in the final month or so of the cycle.
OL - Cesar Ruiz - The O-line is loaded for what seems like the first time in over 20 years. Four starters return, as well as key backups at tackle and guard/center. Ben Bredeson and Jon Runyan Jr., who both make up the starting left side, will be looked at as the leaders of the group and possible All-Big Ten players. However, I think the success of the group only goes as far as Ruiz is able to take it. Michigan of course has a storied history of putting quality centers on the field and this kid was very highly-touted coming out of high school. If he can take another step up in his development he could be not only the best lineman on this roster, but one of the best centers in the nation.
DL - Kwity Paye - I am not as concerned at tackle as most people. I for one am comfortable with Dwumfour and Kemp returning to play there after earning starting jobs last season. I also like the depth with the combination of what the team has and what they just signed in the class of 2019. Paye is the MIP here because he is the top guy to help fill some big shoes left on the edge of the line. When given a chance last season, Paye often played just as well as the guy who was starting ahead of him on the depth chart and things fell apart in the Peach Bowl when he got hurt. His presence is huge for Michigan and I expect very little, if any, drop-off in production wherever he plays.
LB - Josh Ross - Yes, Khaleke Hudson is uber-important and will be a leader on the team. The team can count on him to nail down his assignments and he will indeed be one of the most important players on the team in 2019. I gave the edge to Ross here though because the third-year player will probably be starting in place of the departed Devin Bush Jr., as he did in the Peach Bowl. He will be depended upon to stuff inside running lanes and chase down ballcarriers. He doesn't possess the same elite-level speed as Bush, but he has a bigger frame and is at least three inches taller. Ross did lead the team in tackles against Florida (11tkls) and delivered a few big hits throughout the season, so all signs are pointing in the right direction. His presence should be huge for the team this year.
DB - Lavert Hill - The simple fact of the matter is that Hill could've gone pro but instead he chose to come back for his senior year. He wants a title and he wants to improve his draft stock. He will try to lead a young secondary while covering the opposition's best receivers. The team will depend on him to shut things down on his side of the field so they can focus on providing some support for less experienced players elsewhere. Like most guys on this list, if he struggles in any way it could get ugly.
K/P - Jake Moody - The kicking situation is solid. With two kickers and two punters returning with a lot of quality experience among them, the situation there probably deserves a post of its own. However, I have picked Moody as the most important player here for one reason: He is the most reliable field goal kicker the team has to hit those 30 to 40 yarders.
QB - Shea Patterson - Well, this is a no-brainer. Patterson, the returning starter, was one of the top-rated passers in the nation last year. He was also the most productive quarterbacks the team has had since Denard Robinson, but with a better winning percentage. Nothing more needs to be said. In regards to the backups, getting Dylan McCaffrey back is huge. He should be the top guy off the bench as he was before he broke his collarbone against Wisconsin. Overall, this position group is in great shape for the foreseeable future.
RB - Zach Charbonnet - Charbonnet is being counted on by Harbaugh and company to come help carry the load immediately as a freshman. And with his measurables and relative success at a high level of high school football, it is easy to put such lofty hopes on the kid. He is a borderline 5-Star prospect, so it would be a blessing if he showed up and filled the empty spot left by Karan Higdon (and Chris Evans?). I know it's a lot to ask, but the scenario seems too perfect. The team is loaded at quarterback, receiver, and along the offensive line for the first time in over a decade. The defenses Michigan will face will have a lot on their minds. There is a bevy of young talent vying for carries at running back this spring, but none of them seem like real starting material quite yet. Christian Turner is a name that has been popping up, and Tru Wilson gained a lot of experience in 2018, but neither guy appears to have a ceiling as high as Charbonnet's when you compare raw athletic talent and ability. Mind you, Michigan has not had very good luck with highly rated running backs. The last three or four guys that the team signed here that were rated as 5-Star level talent totally flopped in Ann Arbor. At least one of them was a Harbaugh recruit. 3-Star guys like Karan Higdon and Mike Hart quickly come to mind as lower ranked guys that put together much better careers at Michigan. Hart is the only one ever that truly blew up as a freshman. I mean, he rushed for damn near 1500 yards. Now I'm not saying Charbonnet needs to or is even capable of putting together a season like that, because the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. It would just be nice to see him contribute. Honestly, if he can just come in and learn to pass block effectively I would be extremely happy. Any kind of threat with the ball out of the backfield would be a bonus.
WR - Tarik Black - At first I had Donovan Peoples-Jones here. Then I had him paired with Nico Collins, sharing the spot as MIP at receiver. Nobody could've argued with me. Ultimately though, I feel Black is actually just as big of a key to the team's offensive success in 2019 as anybody. He was the team's best receiver as soon as he stepped on the field as a true freshman two years ago. He is now primed to play third fiddle in what could be one of the most dangerous trio of receivers in the nation after missing most of the last two years due to injuries. If he comes back strong and shows those abilities that he has flashed when healthy, there might not be a nickel or dime back out there in the Big Ten that could cover him one on one.
TE - Nick Eubanks - Eubanks led the team in yards per catch and made some crucial plays down the stretch as the team's third tight end. He should pick up the slack after Zach Gentry bolted for the NFL. If he doesn't, this position could be in a world of hurt. Sean McKeon has made more of a name for himself as a blocker than a receiver, but he does have potential. Mustapha Muhammad is another talented youngster to keep an eye on after he redshirted his freshman season. He was the team's top target they signed in 2018. True freshman Erik All has potential too, but I expect him to mostly sit out and redshirt in his first season on campus. Very few players rose up the rankings as much as All did in the final month or so of the cycle.
OL - Cesar Ruiz - The O-line is loaded for what seems like the first time in over 20 years. Four starters return, as well as key backups at tackle and guard/center. Ben Bredeson and Jon Runyan Jr., who both make up the starting left side, will be looked at as the leaders of the group and possible All-Big Ten players. However, I think the success of the group only goes as far as Ruiz is able to take it. Michigan of course has a storied history of putting quality centers on the field and this kid was very highly-touted coming out of high school. If he can take another step up in his development he could be not only the best lineman on this roster, but one of the best centers in the nation.
DL - Kwity Paye - I am not as concerned at tackle as most people. I for one am comfortable with Dwumfour and Kemp returning to play there after earning starting jobs last season. I also like the depth with the combination of what the team has and what they just signed in the class of 2019. Paye is the MIP here because he is the top guy to help fill some big shoes left on the edge of the line. When given a chance last season, Paye often played just as well as the guy who was starting ahead of him on the depth chart and things fell apart in the Peach Bowl when he got hurt. His presence is huge for Michigan and I expect very little, if any, drop-off in production wherever he plays.
LB - Josh Ross - Yes, Khaleke Hudson is uber-important and will be a leader on the team. The team can count on him to nail down his assignments and he will indeed be one of the most important players on the team in 2019. I gave the edge to Ross here though because the third-year player will probably be starting in place of the departed Devin Bush Jr., as he did in the Peach Bowl. He will be depended upon to stuff inside running lanes and chase down ballcarriers. He doesn't possess the same elite-level speed as Bush, but he has a bigger frame and is at least three inches taller. Ross did lead the team in tackles against Florida (11tkls) and delivered a few big hits throughout the season, so all signs are pointing in the right direction. His presence should be huge for the team this year.
DB - Lavert Hill - The simple fact of the matter is that Hill could've gone pro but instead he chose to come back for his senior year. He wants a title and he wants to improve his draft stock. He will try to lead a young secondary while covering the opposition's best receivers. The team will depend on him to shut things down on his side of the field so they can focus on providing some support for less experienced players elsewhere. Like most guys on this list, if he struggles in any way it could get ugly.
K/P - Jake Moody - The kicking situation is solid. With two kickers and two punters returning with a lot of quality experience among them, the situation there probably deserves a post of its own. However, I have picked Moody as the most important player here for one reason: He is the most reliable field goal kicker the team has to hit those 30 to 40 yarders.
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