The Michigan Wolverines are well in fall camp ahead of their season opener in Dallas on Sept. 2 against Florida, and with the team having to replace a nation-leading 19 starters from last year's squad, this camp is as important as any in the Jim Harbaugh era. Between position battles, a talented group of underclassmen and a number of impact positions available, there is plenty to sort through surrounding the Wolverines.
After talking with several of our insiders and gathering information from other sources, here's all the latest on where things stand after the first week of fall camp.
Peters, Speight in serious battle to start at QB
Incumbent starter Wilton Speight is largely expected to keep his job this season, but the Wolverines are having a legitimate competition between him, senior John O'Korn and redshirt freshman Brandon Peters under new passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton. Speight is still running with the first team right now, but Hamilton isn't giving him the job.
"We have several," Hamilton said Wednesday about Michigan's QB situation. "We have potentially several (who could win the job)."
Peters has been the most impressive in camp so far, and it's looking like he will take the backup job from O'Korn. However, unless something drastic changes, Speight will be the starter for the opener.
Our source indicates that Peters is the most talented by wide margin, but he doesn't have the command of the huddle or the confidence of his teammates yet. Peters is a tad too passive to take the starting role from a returning starter in Speight right now, specifically when Michigan has the fewest returning starters in America.
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Three true freshmen wide receivers expected to receive major playing time, potentially start
There is plenty of competition at wide receiver, especially among the freshmen and sophomores battling for playing time, and it looks like both Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones will be in the five- or six-man rotation.
Freshman Tarik Black is another freshman who has been impressive and should be competing for playing time. He hasn't picked up the offense as quickly as Collins and Peoples-Jones, but his talent will ensure that he sees the field.
Sophomore Kekoa Crawford has emerged as the most promising wideout in camp and should be No. 1 on the depth chart, but it's largely muddled behind him. Right now, we project Collins, Peoples-Jones, Black, Eddie McDoom and Grant Perry to be the main contributors in the rotation.
Expect Michigan to rotate a bunch of players early in the season as they identify which of the young receivers they can trust. If we had to project, Donovan Peoples-Jones will start at WR with Crawford.
Three-man running back rotation expected
There is much more clarity in the backfield than there is anywhere else. Chris Evans, Karan Higdon and Ty Isaac have separated themselves as the top backs on the depth chart - in that order.
Evans will likely be the starter, but he and Higdon look like they will receive a fairly even amount of carries. Isaac will also be in the mix and get a steady amount of work even though he is behind the other two. Harbaugh likes to take the running-back-by-committee approach, and these three backs give him plenty of options.
Still competition along the offensive line
This is where most of the big position battles are taking place this fall Mason Cole and Ben Bredeson have locked up the left tackle and left guard spots, respectively, but the other three positions are very much up for grabs.
Freshman Cesar Ruiz, the top-ranked center in the 2017 class, is really pushing for playing time at both center and right guard. Fifth-year senior Pat Kugler is getting the most snaps at center with the starters, but it's clear that Ruiz is making progress. Michigan will find a way to get him on the field. Michael Onwenu is also in the mix at right guard, and it's considered to be a neck-and-neck race between him and Ruiz. Juwann Bushell-Beatty and Jon Runyan are currently locked into a battle for the right tackle position.
Big news: We are now projecting that true freshman Chuck Filiaga will get the starting nod at RT for the opener.
Freshman JaRaymond Hall is expected to see playing time, though in a rotation capacity. His playing time will likely increase as the season wears on.
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Rashan Gary, Mike McCray ready to be stars
Gary continues to deliver on all of the promise he came to Michigan with as a freshman, and he has stepped up again this offseason. The Wolverines need a star on the defensive side of the ball with all the talent they lost, and Gary is showing all the signs that he is ready to fill that role as a dominant defensive lineman.
Fifth-year senior Mike McCray has also stepped up and has provided the leadership this young group needs while building off of a very good junior campaign. All indications out of camp are that he is also ready to become a star and could be one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten. McCray will be perhaps the most valuable member of the unit.
Also, one player who has flipped a switch and come into his own is sophomore defensive lineman Michael Dwumfour. Dwumfour will likely be in the 2-deep and get starter-level snaps in Don Browns aggressive defense.
5-star true freshman DT Aubrey Solomon is in the 2-deep and will be a star for sure. He will see a LOT of playing time, perhaps as much or more as Rashan Gary got as a true freshman last season.
Projected starters in the secondary
Like wide receiver, cornerback is another one of the positions where there remains some questions about who will receive playing time. It's looking like sophomores Lavert Hill and David Long will be the starters at the moment, but freshman Ambry Thomas is really making a push for playing time. He should see a significant amount of snaps and receive more and more playing time as the season rolls on. Redshirt junior Brandon Watson will also see some time on the field.
Things are also pretty clear at the safety spot for the Wolverines. Tyree Kinnel is a definite lock at one of the safety spots and it looks like Josh Metellus will start alongside him. He's currently running with the starters and appears to have a grip on the other starting spot.
Quinn Nordin projects to be the starting kicker
Nordin, best known as the kicker Jim Harbaugh had the sleepover with, redshirted last year after dealing with an injury but is making the most of his time out on the field. He has taken over the kicking duties, as expected, and excelled, quelling any inkling of a true competition. The job will be his for the next four years.
Projected Starters
Offense
QB - Wilton Speight
RB - Chris Evans
FB - Khalid Hill
WR - Kekoa Crawford
WR - Donovan Peoples-Jones
TE - Ian Bunting
LT - Mason Cole
LG - Ben Bredeson
C - Pat Kugler
RG - Michael Onwenu
RT - Chuck Filiaga (true freshman)
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Defense
DE - Rashan Gary
DT - Maurice Hurst Jr.
DT - Bryan Mone
DE - Chase Winovich
LB - Mike McCray
LB - Devin Bush Jr.
VIPER - Khaleke Hudson
CB - Lavert Hill
S - Tyree Kinnel
S - Josh Metellus
CB - David Long
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K- Quinn Nordin
KR - Nate Johnson (Soph WR), Chris Evans (Soph RB)
PR - Nate Johnson (Soph WR)
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