MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
2012 College Football Early Preview
OFFENSE - 6
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 8
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: Junior Hemingway-WR, Martavious Odoms-WR, Kelvin Grady-WR, Kevin Koger-TE, Steve Watson-TE, David Molk-C, Mark Huyge-OT
DEFENSE: Mike Martin-DT, Will Heininger-DT, Ryan Van Bergen-DE, Troy Woolfolk-CB
QB Denard Robinson
Quarterback / Secondary

Denard Robinson can play college quarterback in any offensive system. His feet are the most dynamic set of wheels anyone at the University of Michigan has ever seen from behind center. The secondary has wealth of able bodies. While it may not be ready for elite status this unit is a far cry from where it was just two years ago.

Defensive Line / Receiver

Losing All-Conference fireplug Mike Martin at defensive tackle will sting a little. Much of the defensive turnaround at Michigan was due in part to this DL that loses three starters. Mr. Robinson's skills at QB were not built for passing domination. Hence, there are very few receivers hauling in a significant amount of passes. Some of the better ones have moved on.

LB Kenny Demens
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2012 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
MICHIGAN 2012 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Denard Robinson-Sr Devin Gardner-Jr
FB Stephen Hopkins-Jr ..
TB Fitzgerald Toussaint-Jr Vincent Smith-Sr
WR Roy Roundtree-Sr Jeremy Jackson-Jr
WR Jeremy Gallon-Jr Drew Dileo-Jr
TE Brandon Moore-Sr ..
OT Taylor Lewan-Jr ..
OG Michael Schofield-Jr Ricky Barnum-Sr
C .. ..
OG Patrick Omameh-Sr ..
OT .. ..
K Brendan Gibbons-Jr ..
 
MICHIGAN 2012 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Craig Roh-Sr Jibreel Black-Jr
DT Will Campbell-Sr ..
DT .. ..
DE Nathan Brink-Jr ..
SLB Jake Ryan-So Cam Gordon-Jr
MLB Kenny Demens-Sr Mike Jones-Jr
WLB Desmond Morgan-So Brandin Hawthorne-Sr
CB Blake Countess-So Raymon Taylor-So
CB J.T. Floyd-Sr Courtney Avery-Jr
SS Jordan Kovacs-Sr Marvin Robinson-Jr
FS Thomas Gordon-Jr Josh Furman-So
P Will Hagerup-Jr Matt Wile-So
QUICK TAKES
  • Two reasons exist as to why Michigan turned around the program so quickly and posted a 10-2 regular season in 2011...quarterback Denard Robinson and Head Coach Brady Hoke.
  • Denard Robinson owns the top six total offense games in school history. In 2010 he set the NCAA record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (1,702). If he can limit the number of interceptions, he will be in New York next December as a Heisman Finalist.
  • Fitzgerald Toussaint (and Robinson) gives Michigan two ball carriers that have gone over 1,000 yards in the same season. This feat has not been duplicated in Ann Arbor since 1975 when Rob Lytle and Gorden Bell reached this mark. Toussaint and Robinson will be a deadly one-two punch.
  • While the Wolverine defense more than doubled their efforts from 2010 to 2011, don't expect the next jump to be so grand. The hefty losses on the defensive line, which paved the way for the improvements, could have a negative ripple effect.
  • Middle linebacker Kenny Demens will surpass the 100 tackles total next season.
  • The Michigan 2012 prospectus looks good, but plenty of concerns are in order. They are missing one of the all-time great centers with the loss of David Molk, there does not seem to be a dominating pass catcher and the defensive line's success will be hard to duplicate with new faces.

 

MICHIGAN 2012 SCHEDULE

9/01 - Alabama @Arlington, TX
9/08 - Air Force
9/15 - Massachusetts
9/22 - at Notre Dame
10/06 - at Purdue
10/13 - Illinois
10/20 - Michigan State
10/27 - at Nebraska
11/03 - at Minnesota
11/10 - Northwestern
11/17 - Iowa
11/24 - at Ohio State