Michigan Football: 2016 Recruiting Needs Breakdown

The 2015 recruiting season was just the beginning for new Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. After lifting the program from the middle of the FBS pack to a top-40 finish in the recruiting rankings in just over a month, there's plenty of reason to assume that Harbaugh will have Michigan near the top of the charts come next National Signing Day.

What's the gameplan for 2016? What are pressing needs for the Wolverines going forward? We'll examine this and more in our Michigan Football: 2016 Recruiting Needs Breakdown.

Quarterbacks

# of 2016 scholarship QBs: 4

Needs as of now: 1 or 2

One thing's for sure about Jim Harbaugh - he's not in the market of placating egos when it comes to finding the right quarterback to lead his program. Right now, you'd expect Michigan to only add one signal caller with four in the bank, but don't be surprised if Harbaugh lands two four to five-star QBs and turns 2016 into a Wild West showdown of a quarterback competition. A lot of this will hinge on the maturation processes of 2015 signees Zach Gentry and Alex Malzone over the next year, so stay tuned.

Wide Receivers:

# of 2016 scholarship WRs: 9

Needs as of now: 2

Harbaugh will be on the lookout for game-changing home run threats in the Class of 2016, and he won't have a lot of time to waste in picking and choosing his favorites. Devin Funchess is out of the picture now, and the trio of Drake Harris, Maurice Ways, and Brian Cole will have plenty to prove come 2015. However, with just 56 combined catches in 2014 amongst the returning crop of wideouts, expect Michigan to act and act fast on the recruiting trail.

Running Backs: 

# of 2016 scholarship RBs: 6 tailbacks, 1 fullback

Needs as of now: 1 of each

The program's approach to the running back situation has more to do with who's already signed on than who's out there. Former five-stars Derrick Green and Ty Isaac, along with recent signing Karan Higdon, provide plenty of talent for new OC Tim Drevno and new RBs coach Tyrone Wheatley to work with. Regardless, Harbaugh will undoubtedly target a handful of high-ranked tailbacks, while searching out a blocking monster/pass-catching threat in the Class of 2016's crop of fullbacks.

Tight Ends:

# of 2016 scholarship TEs: 4

Needs as of now: 2, maybe 3

Jim Harbaugh's offenses are tight end-centric to the max, so he'll never be done scouting out talented athletes at the position as long as there's room on the squad and players to be had. There are two major factors at play when it comes to just how many tight ends the program targets for 2016. One will be Tyrone Wheatley Jr.'s final positional landing spot. If he's brought in at tight end as many expect, that's one spot filled. The other thing to watch out for is the maturation process of Jake Butt. Butt has the talent to rocket up the NFL Draft charts, especially with Harbaugh's guidance. If he leans early exit following a hot start to 2015, the Wolverines will expand their net in recruiting.

Offensive Line: 

# of 2016 scholarship OL: 16

Needs as of now: 3 or 4

Michigan already has one prototype offensive tackle committed in Erik Swenson, but the Wolverines are likely to seek out another tackle plus one to two interior talents. OC Tim Drevno is known for seeking a quarterback mentality out of his centers, so expect him to be busy with in-home visits in hopes of finding the perfect fit.

Cornerbacks:

# of 2016 scholarship CBs: 5

Needs as of now: 2 or 3

If five-star Jabrill Peppers moves forward as a safety instead of a cornerback as many believe he will, the Michigan Wolverines will go into 2015 with more potential (especially if Brandon Watson shifts back to CB) than proven commodities at corner. Jourdan Lewis is a step or two away from true elite status , and there's plenty of noteworthy depth to be had behind him , but DC DJ Durkin and Michigan's defensive coaching staff are already scouring the country for four and five-star CBs that have 'headliner' written all over them.

Safeties: 

# of 2016 scholarship Ss: 6

Needs as of now: 1

The Wolverines are in good shape at safety if Peppers leads the charge. Provided that he does and Watson moves back to his natural corner spot as previously mentioned, there's need for just one safety out of the 2016 class. If Peppers and Watson both play safety, this box might be checked off in favor of addressing other defensive needs.

Linebackers:

# of 2016 scholarship LBs: 6

Needs as of now: 3

DJ Durkin will lose four linebackers to graduation after the 2015 campaign, and there's a chance he'll be five down if Noah Furbush shifts to tight end or defensive end. Harbaugh, Durkin, and the rest of U-M's coaching staff know just how much of an edge having the biggest, strongest, and fastest linebackers gives to a defense. Don't expect them to sit around for long, even with three-star Elkton (MD) Eastern Christian prospect Dele Harding already signed up for the class.

Defensive Ends: 

# of 2016 scholarship DEs

Needs as of now: 2 or 3

With former defensive coordinator Greg Mattison in charge of the defensive line, expect the use of a strongside run-stopper and weakside pass rusher to remain the going norm. There is so much youth at end that is currently in wait-and-see mode (Reuben Jones, Shelton Johnson, Lawrence Marshall), so the team's needs could shift based on both production and pure physical growth. However, that doesn't erase the fact that the team's inconsistency at end from a pass-rush standpoint needs to be (and will be) addressed.

Defensive Tackles: 

# of 2016 scholarship DTs: 7

Needs as of now: 1

If there is one position on the roster that Harbaugh could just leave as is and feel comfortable, it's defensive tackle. There's depth and talent across the board, and plenty of potential upside with the young prospects already vying for playing time. Michigan won't turn down a top DT though, so don't write off those rumors about #1 2016 defensive tackle Rashan Gary just yet.

Kickers/Punters:

# of 2016 scholarship K/Ps: 2

Needs as of now: 1

Andrew David seems a safe bet to lock into place as the team's kicker for 2015 and the long haul after, and long snapper is also set, so it's comes down to the team's punting game and a pair of walk-ons. If either Kenny Allen or Kyle Seychel emerge as the go-to guy, that's great. If there's any doubt whatsoever, the team will likely spend a spot on finding a scholarship leg to take over punting duties.