Michigan Football: 5 Wolverines that need to step up this spring

Jaylen Mayfield has work to do at right tackle

Much like Turner, Jalen Mayfield is another redshirt freshman that is trying to move his way up the depth chart and this spring is going to be critical to his chances of doing that, at least if he wants to start next season.

Offensively, the Wolverines don’t lose much and along the offensive line, only one starter, Juwann Bushell-Beatty is graduating. Yet, even his spot already has a favorite as Andrew Stueber started the last three games including at Ohio State and in the Peach Bowl.

Stueber and Mayfield are both four-star prospects and even though Mayfield was rated a little higher when he came to Michigan football, none of that matters now.

What does matter is that Michigan is bringing in a talented class of offensive lineman including Trevor Keegan and Trente Jones, two offensive tackles with elite size. Neither decided to enroll early so Mayfield has a chance to at least entrench himself as the swing tackle behind Stueber and Jon Runyan Jr. or maybe he can push to start.

But if he doesn’t play well during the spring, it could allow someone like Ryan Hayes, another redshirt freshman, to pass him and with more guys coming aboard in the fall, no one wants to move backward at offensive tackle.