Michigan Football: Top 5 position battles heading into the spring

O-line

The competition along the offensive line will be as heated as any on the roster and with four starters graduating or going to the NFL, there is lots of playing time available.

The good news for Michigan football is that the one returning starter is at tackle in Jalen Mayfield. He did a solid job as a freshman and should be a fixture at one tackle spot with Ryan Hayes looking like the other starter.

Andrew Stueber could also factor into things. He and Mayfield were neck-and-neck for the right tackle job before Stueber suffered a season-ending injury. Ed Warriner essentially said that Stueber and Mayfield would have been each treated as starters, so if Stueber is back healthy, expect him to be a factor, maybe even at guard.

The most interesting battle though might come at center, where the Wolverines need to replace Cesar Ruiz.  Veteran Andrew Vastardis will likely be batting Zach Carpenter, who stood out on the scout team last season. Zak Zinter, who will take part in spring football as a freshman is another name to watch, but Karsen Barnhardt is a redshirt that can’t be overlooked. I wouldn’t count out Trente Jones at tackle either.