The new era of Michigan football is in full swing, with Jim Harbaugh already putting his stamp on the program through one set of practices and about half of a recruiting season. Now the focus turns to fall camp and a laundry list of things to address before the regular season kicks off on September 3rd. Here's the 5 Biggest Questions For Michigan Football Heading Into Fall Camp.
5. How will the secondary shake out?
Expectations are sky high for world-class blue chip Jabrill Peppers, and his move to safety coincides with the genesis of a strong mentor/student relationship with the aforementioned Harbaugh. While we expect a distinct level of awesomeness out of Jabrill, and Jarrod Wilson and Jourdan Lewis are penciled in at the other safety spot and one corner respectively, there is still one cornerback spot ostensibly up for grabs. Our money is on Stanford transfer Wayne Lyons, but don't be surprised if things get turned upside down as fall progresses.
4. Who'll be this camp's breakout performer?
Our money is on two players -- massive nose guard Bryan Mone and receiver Freddy Canteen. Mone played all of last season and should shine as the 6-4, 325-pound anchor of DJ Durkin's revamped defense. Expect him to blow some teammates up when the pads are on. As for Canteen, he tabbed himself as a breakout candidate last year but he picked up just five catches in spot duty for a receiving corps in flux. The sophomore wideout has the talent and instincts to match his bluster, and we have a good feeling he'll step forward and seize the opportunity with the wide receiver depth chart still up in the air.
3. How will Jim Harbaugh balance and order his quartet in the backfield?
Derrick Green missed the second half of last season after suffering a broken collarbone at Rutgers, joining fellow RB Drake Johnson on the shelf after Johnson tore an ACL for the second time in his career. Green is back and Johnson is progressing well in his recovery, but they'll have stiff competition for carries with USC transfer Ty Isaac and spring standout De'Veon Smith grabbing the headlines the past few months. We're intrigued about just how Harbaugh will divvy things up both in fall camp and when the regular season gets underway.
2. How do we assess the Harbaugh effect?
We already know just how Harbaugh has helped Michigan's recruiting effors for 2016 and beyond, and the good feeling surrounding spring camp showed how the implementation of a fresh vision can jumpstart a program. Fall camp is the next step, giving Harbaugh ample opportunity to keep moving the needle in a positive direction while setting his sights on a Big Ten title run.
1. Who'll be the starting quarterback?
Jake Rudock or Shane Morris? Morris is a junior who carries the only in-game experience of Michigan's returning quarterbacks, and Rudock was a two-year starter at Iowa who decided to transfer after being dropped down the Hawkeyes' depth chart. Our money is on Rudock as a fresh face heading a fresh start in Ann Arbor, but we're not underestimating Morris who may be a stellar fall camp away from garnering Harbaugh's full seal of approval.
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