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

Taking over for Lavert Hill

In the secondary, another three-year starter will need to be replaced as Michigan football will be without corner Lavert Hill, who graduated after three seasons as a starter.

Hill was a little bit limited. He was a good man-to-man cover guy but was a little short and not super quick, which led to some bad days against Ohio State and the like.

But he was also a very effective player during his time in Ann Arbor and he’s another guy who won’t be easily replaced. Ambry Thomas, another starter from last season returns, but Vincent Gray will also be counted on to make them jump into being a full-time player.

He has started games before and play significant snaps as the No. 3 last season, breaking up five passes and getting 20 tackles in nine games. Unlike Hill, Gray is 6-foot-2 and he’s starting to get some NFL buzz, including from Brown who expressed concern about Gray leaving after this season because he could be that good.

While I don’t want Gray to leave after this season, if he spends the entire playing year like a first-round pick, it’d be a win for Michigan and a step up even from Hill. Who knows if that will happen, but Gray is among five guys I expect to play well as a starter when the season begins.