Michigan Football: 5 Wolverines with big shoes to fill in 2020

Taking over for Ruiz won’t be easy

Michigan football had one player picked in the first round of the 2020 draft and that was center Cesar Ruiz, who left the Wolverines after his junior season. The former No. 1 center in the country became a starter at guard as a freshman that turned into an All-Big Ten performer.

While many have focused on Michigan needing a new quarterback, the Wolverines also have to replace arguably the best interior offensive lineman in the Big Ten conference and it will do so with an unproven performer.

Like at quarterback, it figures to come down to two players: Zach Carpenter and Andrew Vastardis.

Vastardis is the veteran but he doesn’t have the raw talent of Carpenter, who impressed during his redshirt season and was named Scout Team Player of the Year. Most expect him to win the job, but at the same time, filling in for Ruiz and trying to reach that level of play won’t be easy.

And as good as Ruiz was against the pass, his athleticism was key in the run game too and if the Wolverines are going to get the most out of their offense, they need a solid center.