Michigan Football: 10 most important Wolverines for 2021 season

3. Cade McNamara

It’s obvious how important Cade McNamara is to this team. He was named the starter this week and if Michigan football is going to have an 8-9 win season, Cade is going to have to play well.

You might ask why he’s not No. 1? It has something to do with J.J. McCarthy. If McNamara struggles, Michigan can always turn to the five-star freshman, who should play as much as possible this season.

McNamara has to play well to hold onto his job. The Wolverines need to start fast and Cade is the best hope for doing that. Yet, if he struggles, it might not be the end of the world.

2. Daxton Hill

There are two players on this team that offer something no one else does and one of them is former five-star recruit Daxton Hill.

Obviously, the new defensive scheme should help Hill, who was moved between safety and cornerback the past two seasons. However, with Macdonald running things, Hill should excel this season and I see an All-American season coming.

During the first two years, Hill has been solid. If he wasn’t a five-star recruit, his production would probably be celebrated. He just hasn’t made the impact plays and in order for this team to reach its potential, it needs game-changing plays from one of its best players.