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Comparing Michigan Football’s current roster with 2016

By Jared Dettmer

Michigan Wolverines quarterback Joe Milton (5) warms up before action against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.Michigan Football
Michigan Wolverines quarterback Joe Milton (5) warms up before action against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.Michigan Football /
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Comparing the Defensive Depth Charts

Beginning with the defensive line, there are some major similarities. Both lines are headed by two studs coming off of the edge, both have experience at defensive tackle with budding stars coming off the bench being heavily involved in the rotation.

I think the edge here goes to 2016 but only because I think putting Maurice Hurst level expectations on Chris Hinton is lofty, even though Hinton was a 5-star himself, although I really like the potential of Michigan’s 2020 rotation coming off both edges.

At the Viper position, it’s difficult to expect anyone to fill the shoes left by Peppers. After all, he did make it to the Heisman ceremony in New York as a defensive player.

Having said that, Michael Barrett has been groomed for the position behind a former team captain in Khaleke Hudson, and he should be ready to break out this year especially considering his athleticism as a former high school quarterback.

The other two linebacker spots are where the 2020 squad pulls ahead. Cam McGrone can put himself into first round NFL draft consideration with the kind of year many expect him to have.

He is not as fast sideline to sideline as 2016 reserve Devin Bush was at his peak, but he is as close as the Michigan staff could possibly ask for.

At the other ILB spot, I’ll give Josh Ross the edge over Mike McCray because of the athleticism difference. McCray’s leadership was outstanding, but Ross is quite the leader himself and has a much better athletic profile than McCray ever did.

The back four of the defense is where the 2016 squad takes over for good. Trotting out All-American Jourdan Lewis and future NFL players like Jeremy Clark, Delano Hill and Dymonte Thomas will be tough to top. That doesn’t even mention the pure experience that unit had with five players in at least their fourth season with the Wolverines.

However, the 2020 DB room has some top end talent of their own. Led by possibly the best safety duo in the conference in senior Brad Hawkins and sophomore phenom Daxton Hill, the Wolverines should control the middle of the field and prevent those big plays that proved to be decisive a season ago, especially against Penn State.

The corners bring much greater question marks this season and will almost certainly be behind the bar set by 2016’s group — but that is okay.

This season, each player can play every game and retain their eligibility which should lead to all teams rotating in younger players more than usual and will benefit the Wolverines’ 2021 hopes, assuming we get a “typical” season next Fall.

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