Michigan Football: 5 non-starters who will have key impact in 2019

As we have seen in recent days, the need for depth is important. In the case of Michigan football, here are guys beyond the first 22 that will make a big impact.

It’s easy to see that the talent level of the Michigan football program has continued to grow under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

While some fans may not be satisfied with three 10-wins seasons in the past four years and an 0-4 record against Ohio State, which makes every Michigan fan miserable, there is no denying the gigantic steps forward taken under Harbaugh.

When he came, Michigan football was a joke in the Big Ten and now, it’s a top program right along with Ohio State. It would be fair to say that only the Buckeyes have been better over the past few seasons in the league and with increased depth and talent, the winds of change may be in the air.

Injuries and health issues to projected starters Ambry Thomas and Andrew Stueber don’t help. But it also serves as a reminder that depth is key. Heck, Ohio State won a game, at Michigan Stadium with its backup quarterback in 2017, then won the Big Ten title without its best player in 2018.

Can Michigan achieve those same kinds of feats? The quarterback position is certainly as strong as ever and the same be said for a lot of other spots on both sides of the ball. The interesting thing is the depth on both offense and defense and with that in mind, here are five non-starters that will play a key role in 2019.