Fall camp for Michigan football will be here before we know it. The 2025 season is 50 days away, and there are still some important position battles to be decided.
For Michigan, things are mostly settled on defense. The Wolverines are fond of playing lots of players on defense. Depth is important. Wear and tear isn't just a video game concept.
Michigan's defensive line is expected to go at least 10 deep. Sherrone Moore said the depth reminded him of 2021 earlier this week.
Things are mostly set on the defensive side of the ball. Most of the position battles will take place on defense, but here are five to watch, including one on defense.
Quarterback
There doesn't seem to be much drama about who the starting quarterback will be. Bryce Underwood is expected to start. It's possible that Mikey Keene or Jake Garcia could play a role, but it will be interesting to see which one winds up being the backup.
Garcia has played for Miami, Missouri, and East Carolina. He's a former four-star quarterback. Keene led the Mountain West in passing yards last season. As long as those guys are healthy, the quarterback room should be solid.
Hopefully they aren't needed. Underwood is special and it would be surprising if he didn't start, but the QB position is still one to watch this fall.
Left tackle
There is more clarity about the offensive tackle position battle. Evan Link is the veteran. He started for Michigan football against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Link held up OK. He didn't play like an all-conference offensive tackle against the Tide, but he wasn't a glaring weakness either.
Link was a highly-rated player coming out of high school. We'll see if he takes a jump this season. That would be a positive development, although I still maintain that Link would be a better guard than a tackle after struggling at right tackle last season.
However, the player to watch at left tackle is five-star freshman Andrew Babalola. Babalola is the highest-ranked offensive lineman in Michigan football recruiting history. The coaching staff raved about Babalola this spring. He was the first player picked in the spring game draft, even ahead of Bryce Underwood.
The future is just as bright at left tackle as it is at quarterback. Yet, the question lingers if Babalola will be ready to realize any of that potential this season. It wouldn't be surpising if he worked his way into the starting lineup at some point.
Depending how camp goes, it might even be Week 1. If the competition is close, it might make sense to bet on talent, just like Michigan is doing with Underwood.
Right guard
There is another interesting battle on the offensive line. There is expected to be a new starter at right guard. If Link doesn't win the starting tackle job, he might make sense on the right side.
As it stands, Nathan Efobi, another former four-star recruit, is expected to be the starter. However, he's going to have to beat out some others to get the job, including Lawrence Hattar, the Ferris State transfer, who has been forgotten about.
Hattar was an All-American at the D-2 level. He's certainly capable of winning the job. The summer arrival probably set him back. Fall camp will be critical for him to get up to speed, as well as trying to make an impression on the coaches.
Efobi would be a first-time starter. It's possible that the position battles go into the season. Jim Harbaugh did that and so did Sherrone Moore last season with a few positions. Efobi played in six games last season but this is another position that's an unknown.
Slot receiver
One thing Michigan football did during the offseason was provide competition. It added Hattar and Brady Norton, who will compete at left guard, to the offensive line. The Wolverines also added players at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver.
Donaven McCulley is going to be the clear No. 1. Moore even said he reminded the coaching staff of Nico Collins this spring. He's 6-foot-5, and had 644 receiving yards two years ago on a really bad Indiana team.
Fred Moore is another wideout who should be starting. After that, there is an interesting battle between Semaj Morgan, a contributor the past two seasons for Michigan football, and Anthony Simpson.
Simpson is another transfer who didn't take part in spring ball. Like McCulley, he didn't produce much last season but had 792 yards in 2023. Simpson had 57 receptions for UMass that season including four 100-yard games. He also had four receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown against Auburn.
Morgan has 49 receptions in the past two seasons for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, he only averaged 5.1 yards per reception but also didn't have the best QB situation. If Morgan and Simpson emerge, with Moore and McCulley, this receiver room will be just fine.
Defensive tackle
Like slot receiver, these guys will be rotated. Moore said the defensive line was 10 deep. There are six defensive tackles expected to play regular snaps this season led by Rayshaun Benny.
Outside of that, it feels like Tre Williams has a starting job secured. Enow Etta played in 10 games last season, with one start. He could easily emerge as a third starter on the defensive interior.
Damon Payne is also in the mix to start. The former Alabama defensive tackle is a stellar run defender. It feels like Williams and Payne will join Benny as starters. However, Trey Pierce is another guy who played very well in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He could be a factor, too.
Ike Iwunna is another player who isn't talked about enough. There are six good ones, and that's why Moore sounded so excited about the D-line depth. This defense is loaded. All six of those guys are going to play this season. The hierarchy is the only thing that needs to be decided.
It's a good problem to have.