Michigan Football: Predicting the 2017 tight end depth chart

Michigan football has a lot of depth and talent at tight end. Here’s a prediction of who could be starting and playing in 2017.

Tight end is a great example of what Michigan football will be dealing with during the 2017 season. There is plenty of talent sure, but the Wolverines also need to replace Jake Butt, one of the best players on the roster last season.

That’s a good microcosm for the entire team. Michigan football sent 18 players total to the NFL. Yet, in USA Today’s latest preseason poll, there it was, ranked No. 4, even if it did seem a bit high.

The reasoning is two fold. For one, UM has one of the best coaches in the country, Jim Harbaugh and secondly, there roster is loaded with talent, even if some is unproven.

When we look at tight end, it’s much the same. It’s a position that returns some experience with Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Ian Bunting, Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry. The decision by Devin Asiasi to transfer hurt, but there is more than enough talent to compensate.

The nice thing for Michigan is that they have tight ends with different skill sets. Wheatley is a guy that can do damage in the passing game, but is also an outstanding blocker. That got him on the field in the past and will keep him on the field in the future.

Wheatley may not be a guy you split wide much, but Bunting, McKeon and especially Gentry could be. Tight end is a position where you want versatility and that’s something Michigan football has.

The question is how will the battle for playing time turn out? It’s hard to say with certainty, but here is a prediction of what the tight end depth chart could look before playing Florida.