Michigan Football: Predicting starters against Western Michigan

Michigan football decided not to release a depth chart for Western Michigan but here’s our best guess of what the Wolverines lineup will look like. 

Jim Harbaugh has never been a fan of releasing depth charts and leading up to Michigan football‘s opening game against Western Michigan, the Wolverines didn’t release one.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s just not really something the Wolverines do. Harbaugh did name quarterback Cade McNamara as the starter. But at the same time, he refused to say what the starting offensive line was going to look like.

Some of that might be strategic. And who knows there could be some injuries that we don’t know about at this point that the staff is trying to keep secret.

Whatever the case might be, it feels like we still have a pretty good idea of who will be starting for Michigan football on Saturday for the opener, and here’s our best guess of the starting lineup:

QB: Cade McNamara 

We already know that McNamara is going to start. Will he give way at any point to J.J. McCarthy? Will he look like the guy who played the second half against Rutgers? Those are some questions we will get answers to on Saturday. But we know who’s taking the first snap under center.

RB: Hassan Haskins

This is another position where we know the starter already. Haskins has been mentioned as running back 1A since the spring and while Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards will see playing time this Saturday, Haskins is the lead dog.

WR: Ronnie Bell, Cornelius Johnson, Mike Sainristil

This is how I believe Michigan football will open the game at wide receiver, assuming it’s a three-wide set. Daylen Baldwin is probably a better fit on the outside and the trio of Cornelius Johnson, Baldwin, and Bell, in the slot, would be dangerous. But it might not start that way.

TE: Erick All 

This is another pretty clear selection. All has a lot to live up to this season but he’s got tremendous potential and if he can rid himself of the drops, he could be an impact player.

OL: Ryan Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Andrew Vastardis, Zak Zinter, Andrew Stueber

The offensive line is one of the bigger question marks when it comes to the starting lineup on Saturday. Chuck Filiaga or Trevor Keegan is one battle to pay attention to. But I feel pretty confident it will be these five guys.

DL: Mazi Smith, Chris Hinton, and Donovan Jeter

Again there will be plenty of snaps for the bench, especially on the defensive line for guys like Julius Welschof. But the top three guys are the best run defenders and fit in this new 3-4 scheme. We know who will be playing, we just need to see how they produce.

LB: Aidan Hutchinson, Nikhai Hill-Green, Josh Ross, David Ojabo

Nikhai Hill-Green is another surprise starter and the redshirt freshman came on during fall camp and is due for a breakout season. Michigan football needs more production out of its pass rush and linebackers in general, but this group seems very capable.

DB: Gemon Green, DJ Turner, Brad Hawkins, Daxton Hill 

DJ Turner is another player that has surged this fall and he appears in line to start over Vincent Gray, even though Gray will still have a role. Daxton Hill and Brad Hawkins are the leaders of this unit, along with Gemon Green, another breakout candidate. This group should be improved and this is how they will start on Saturday, at least according to all indications.