Michigan Football: Updating key position battles for Wolverines

Secondary

On defense, one relatively good sign is that there aren’t a ton of position battles. On the defensive front, it’s pretty obvious Michigan football will be starting Donovan Jeter, Mazi Smith, and Chris Hinton, followed by Josh Ross and Michael Barrett at linebacker.

Aidan Hutchinson will be one guy playing on the edge, with Taylor Upshaw and David Ojabo also in the mix, as well as Braiden McGregor who is finally healthy.

Harbaugh did say that Nikhai Hill-Green and Junior Colson were playing like starting-caliber players at linebacker and I’d expect them to play a lot early, especially Hill-Green.

But the starting spots are mostly settled and in the secondary, some of them are too. Brad Hawkins will be one starter at safety, as well as Daxton Hill unless of course, he starts spending more time at corneback.

Gemon Green who led the team in pass breakups a year ago is going to be one starter on the outside. DJ Turner appears to have moved in front of Vincent Gray for the other spot, but others like George Johnson, and safety RJ Moten, as well as Makari Paige, are in the mix too.

"“We know what Vince Gray is capable of doing. We know what Gemon Green is capable of doing. And DJ Turner. The belief that their coach has in them; Steve Clinkscale is doing an amazing job. He knows a lot about DB play. He knows how it all fits together. There’s an aggressive mindset that is being translated. Gemon made a couple outstanding plays at the line of scrimmage. Physicality is getting instilled in them.”"

Rod Moore also got mentioned as did Quentin Johnson and some of the younger cornerbacks such as Andre Seldon, a former top-100 recruit who could be an ideal slot corner.

The talent is there for this Michigan football team and listening to Harbaugh gives you plenty of reason for optimism. But as we all know, none of it matters until the bright lights come on.