Michigan Football: 3 position battles to watch this spring for Wolverines

Plenty of competition at CB behind Lavert Hill

As David Long showed at the NFL combine this week, he was a big-time player and the Wolverines are going to be without him, meaning they need a new starting corner. In fact, they also need a new nickel corner after Brandon Watson also graduated.

Essentially, that means two corners will get a shot at significant playing time next season and one the guys in line for a starting job is Ambry Thomas, a junior that finished with nine tackles and an interception last season.

While Thomas is a dynamic return specialist, he has good speed and size to start on the perimeter and he showed flashes last season. He may be the favorite to start opposite Lavert Hill, another name to keep an eye on is Vincent Gray, a name dropped by Don Brown during Peach Bowl practices.

Gray is another long corner and someone that could be built to play outside. Miles Sims, Gemon Green, Sammy Faustin and Benjamin St. Juste are other names to watch. Certainly one of those guys will start across from Hill but when freshman five-star Daxton Hill arrives in fall camp, he could push for the nickel job, which is something to keep in mind.

All in all, there are a ton of snaps available in the secondary and spring practice will be huge in determining who gets them when fall rolls around. It will also be one of many position battles to watch as the Wolverines move closer towards the 2019 season.