In 2016, Michigan had dynamic returners in Jabril Peppers and Jourdan Lewis. However, after that season all three of those options had to be replaced.
Enter Donovan Peoples-Jones. Last year the former five-star recruit led the Big Ten with 320 punt return yards and was fourth with 8.0 yards per return as a freshman, but his production was uneven.
Several people warned coaches against starting a young player at punt-returner. Peoples-Jones fumbled returns, he muffed punts, and ran up the wrong side of the field. There were even times mid-season when veteran receiver Grant Perry was sent to field punts in an effort to avoid mistakes all together.