Each year, spring practices give coaching staffs a chance to learn who the new contributors will be during the upcoming season. With roster churn at an all-time high in college football, the depth chart can change drastically over the course of just a few months, and the new puzzle pieces will quickly need to be put together.
While the influx of transfers and early-enrolling freshmen can give teams a quick fix at positions of need, it can also make it difficult for returning players to ascend the depth chart as they originally planned. That’s no exception this year, as a handful of Michigan players are at risk of losing playing time if they aren’t able to take a meaningful step this spring.