The Team: 2020

This is how I expect a game day lineup to look like if the season were to open tomorrow:

The Starting Quarterback: Joe Milton

The Backup: Cade McNamara

The Opinion: I do like the talent here even if it looks a little thin with McCaffrey now gone. Milton has truly elite measurables but nobody knows if he is a gamer or not yet. If not, McNamara might actually be up to the challenge of being the starter. From what I am hearing, he is really giving Milton a push for the job. I do like the coaching decision to go with Milton as the guy in an attempt to make it his offense. As fans, we need to finally see what Harbaugh and company have been doing behind the scenes with a kid he originally recruited and signed to play at Michigan. And it's no secret that all eyes will be on whoever is the first ever truly program-developed quarterback to start a season under this regime. A lot of fans don't seem optimistic but there isn't much to lose by taking a risk in a season that will forever have an asterisk anyway. It all just feels like a warmup for 2021 to some degree. 

The Starting Back: Zach Charbonnet

The Backup Backs: Hassan Haskins, Chris Evans, Christian Turner, Blake Corum

The Opinion: What's not to love here. The Wolverines have a potential game-changing starter in Charbonnet. He can do damage in a lot of ways, including punishing defenders at the goalline. He broke the freshman record for rushing touchdowns (11). Haskins proved to be a real live wire when he entered games last season. He is a nice complement who can also hurt defenses with a variety of moves and a whole lot of toughness. Evans should return to provide some depth. He could also be the third-down back if he proves he can make all the necessary blocks when called upon.  Turner and Corum will battle for garbage time this year, though both players have potential of their own. 

The Fullback: Ben Mason

"Bench" is a senior player who makes a living as a blocker and special teams player. The team doesn't want to use the fullback as much anymore though, and he now spends time in the tight ends room. There is no real backup either because Ben VanSumeren is now playing linebacker. Mason can occasionally make a play with the ball in his hands but he isn't the deadly runner that one would hope of a guy with his combination of size, strength, and athleticism. He can catch though, and I am sure there will be attempts to get him touches in his final season. I just expect to see a lot less of him than we have in the last couple seasons. 

The Number One Receiver: Ronnie Bell

The Number Two Receiver: Cornelius Johnson

The Slot Receiver: Giles Jackson 

The Backup Receivers: Mike Saintristil (Slot), Jake McCurry, A.J. Henning, Roman Wilson

The Opinion: At 6'3", Johnson seems like the best candidate for the starting job opposite Bell, who is one of the top returning receivers in the conference with 48 catches last year. The former player barely got his feet wet as a freshman last season, but he did make the most of his limited opportunities. He appears confident, which goes a long way in this game. I think he will be fine with a full year in the offense under his belt. Jackson really flashed his potential towards the end of the season and he should be ready to be a bigger factor all over the field. Expect to see him line up wide, in the slot, and in the backfield every now and then. McCurry is a walk-on who has proven that he can play special teams and fill in at receiver once in a while. He doesn't have the speed and athleticism of the incoming freshmen though, so I expect him to get buried a little bit on the depth chart. Henning and Wilson might just have too much raw speed and ability to just sit on the bench all season. They will each get a shot at returning kicks and catching some passes. 

The Starting Left Tackle: Ryan Hayes

Has two starts here on his resume already and possesses enough athleticism to play tight end. Should be just fine as a full time starter. Could be anchoring the position for the next three years. 

The Starting Left Guard: Chuck Filiaga

A senior player who has all the tools to be a good starter here, including a 6'6"/335lb frame. He just hasn't been given much of an opportunity yet. With two years in Gattis' system he should be just fine though. Trevor Keegan is apparently right on his heels and he could eventually win the job if he keeps improving. 

The Starting Center: Andrew Vastardis

A fifth-year former walk-on player who has all the smarts and just enough talent to be a good replacement at center. Has looked decent when filling in the last couple years and the coaches don't seem concerned. I am hopeful. 

The Starting Right Guard: Andrew Stueber

Technically he is a returning starter after starting three games at the end of 2018 before missing all of last season with an injury. He was projected to win the battle to be the starter at right tackle over Jalen Mayfield last season and will finally get his chance now. This time it will be at guard instead of tackle, which probably is better suited for a man of his dimensions (6'6"/330lbs). 

The Starting Right Tackle: Jalen Mayfield

Mayfield returns after declaring for the draft when the conference had no plans to play this fall. He is possibly the best tackle in the conference returning and he could be a top 10 pick in the draft this spring with another good season on his resume. Karsen Barnhart was practicing as the starter here while Mayfield was gone, so expect him to be the guy that comes in if needed. 

The Backup Linemen: Karsen Barnhart (T), Trevor Keegan (G/T), Joel Honigford (G/T), Zach Carpenter (C/G), Nolan Rumler (C/G), Trente Jones (T), Zak Zinter (G/T)

The Top Kick Returner: Giles Jackson

The Backup Kick Returners: A.J. Henning/Roman Wilson

The Opinion: Jackson  could be an All-Conference player as a kick returner. He has already returned one for a TD so there is a lot of buzz surrounding his ability. Henning and Wilson should be dangerous too, and I expect them to each get some chances.

The Top Punt Returner: Mike Saintristil

The Backup Punt Returner: Giles Jackson/Michael Barrett/A.J. Henning

The Opinion: Saintristil seems to have all the traits of a good punt returner. It would be nice to see him getting more playing time overall. Barrett is jack-of-all-trades who can do it all on special teams, but I expect to see Jackson and Henning getting more opportunity. 

The Starting Strongside End: Kwity Paye

The Starting Defensive Tackle: Christopher Hinton

The Starting Nose Tackle: Carlo Kemp

Starting Weakside End: Aiden Hutchinson

The Backup Defensive Linemen: Luiji Vilain (WE), David Ojabo (SE), Taylor Upshaw (SE), Jess Speight (DT), Donovan Jeter (DT), Mazi Smith (NT)

The Opinion: I really like the starting four on this unit. Paye and Hutchinson are interchangeable players who will wreak havoc on a lot of tackles in the conference. Kemp is a team leader who had no help in the middle of the line last year. The addition of Hinton as a starter completes the package and will take a lot of pressure off the fifth-year senior next to him. The backups could be good too. Vilain, Ojabo, and Upshaw will get some opportunity to relieve the starters at end, while Speight, Jeter, and Smith will all be counted on to provide depth inside that wasn't quite there last year. 

The Starting Viper: Michael Barrett

The Starting Mike Linebacker: Cam McGrone

The Starting Will Linebacker: Josh Ross

The Backup Linebackers: Anthony Solomon, Ben VanSumeren, Edward Warinner, Charles Thomas, Joey Valesquez, Nikhai Hill-Green, Kalel Mullings

The Opinion: What's not to love about the starters here? McGrone and Ross, who missed last year due to injury, could both be All-Conference material. And both could be NFL players very soon too. Barrett has reported 4.5 speed and he has already proven himself to be a dangerously versatile special teams player. This could end up being the best starting three in the Big Ten, and I would not be surprised to see the production go up at the position. Solomon, a second year player, should be the top backup at all three spots. He looks like the type of athlete that can fill in wherever the team needs him. VanSumeren, a former running back, and Warinner, a transfer from Michigan State and son of Coach Ed, should be the next top backups behind him. Hill-Green has been turning heads though, and he could crack the two-deep at Will. Mullings has the athletic ability to be a difference-maker some day too. And I could definitely see him being a special teams contributor right away.

The Starting Rover: Brad Hawkins

The Starting Free Safety: Daxton Hill

The Number One Corner: Vincent Gray

The Number Two Corner: D.J. Turner II

The Nickel/Dime Backs: Jalen Perry (CB)/Sammy Faustin (S)

The Backup Defensive Backs: Gemon Green (CB), R.J. Moten (S), Makari Paige (S), German Green (S), Andre Seldon (CB), Darion Green-Warren (CB)

The Opinion: Hawkins and Hill might just be the best safety tandem in the league. The former is bigger and more experienced while the latter is faster and more athletic. Together they could create a no-fly zone in the middle of the secondary. That would be terrific considering the sudden lack of experience out at corner. Gray is the top guy on the perimeter after being the nickle back last season, but he still has a lot to prove. Turner II appears to be the top candidate to play opposite of him. Both have loads of potential as starters going forward, but they could still be a year away from actually being ready for the job. Faustin, Perry, and Green have all made some noise but none have really made moves to win a starting role. Moten and Paige could get some playing time as freshmen too. In fact, there have been rumors about these two kids being among the best players in the secondary so far this fall. Is that a good sign of their respective talents or is it an indictment on the game ready talent around them? I truly hope it's the former.