Michigan Football: Wolverines have strong depth in the secondary

With the development of guys like Ambry Thomas and Vincent Gray, Michigan football is super deep in the secondary heading into the 2019 season.

There were a lot of really promising things that happened this spring for Michigan football. One of the best though was the development of defensive backs like Ambry Thomas, Vincent Gray and Brad Hawkins.

Now, instead of question marks in the secondary following the departures of David Long and Tyree Kinnel, Michigan football should feel good about a defensive backfield that suddenly feels very deep.

Throughout the spring, the secondary seemed to stand out, especially Gray and Thomas, who was the fourth cornerback last season behind Lavert Hill, Long and Brandon Watson who also graduated.

That means Michigan is replacing three of its top five defensive backs. However, there are reasons for excitement. Not only is Hill, who was hurt this spring, one of the best man-to-man corners in the country, Thomas and Gray both add quality depth. Here’s what cornerbacks coach Mike Zordich said about his guys after spring ball via the Michigan Insider: 

"“I guess you could say that I’m pleasantly happy that Vincent has come along, Jaylen’s come along and Ambry … the sky’s the limit with that guy, he’s really had a great spring. So happy for those guys, and certainly happy for us as a defense that those guys are playing well.”"

Gray is 6-foot-2 and runs pretty well. It wouldn’t be surprising if he was starting on the outside opposite Hill this fall. No matter what, he’s going to play and he can help with those 50/50 balls Hill and Long had tough times winning against Notre Dame and Ohio State.

Without Hill, Michigan started Thomas and Gray at cornerback, as well as Josh Metellus and J’Marick Woods at safety. Hawkins started in the nickel and held up well. He even intercepted Shea Patterson in the spring game last Saturday.

Hawkins could be an ideal nickel because he can also play well against the run, sort of like Jabrill Peppers. He could also play deep and allow Daxton Hill to play the role of slot corner. Those guys could share time in the slot, along with some others.

On the outside, Hill, Thomas and Gray are the top three guys and all three will probably rotate. Thomas seems like a better fit in the slot and you could see him getting time there too, with Hill or Hawkins at safety.

Metellus, Hawkins, Hill, (Lavert) Hill, Thomas and Gray, that’s a solid top six. But then there are others like Woods, Jalen Perry, Gemon Green, Jaylen Kelly-Powell and Myles Sims who are each in the mix for playing time too.

Metellus and Lavert Hill are probably the only guaranteed starters. After that, it’s a crapshoot and I can see guys rotating a lot of snaps. You could also see some dime stuff with all six of those defensive backs on the field at the same time. That’s a group that could cover and tackle pretty well.

The Ohio State and Florida debacles certainly showed the need for more sub packages on defense and with the size, speed, depth, and versatility of Michigan’s secondary, the Wolverines have the pieces to do that much more in 2019.