Jim Harbaugh's second Michigan team is a trendy pick among media members and national polls already released to be in the national title discussion. Harbaugh and his staff are recruiting at a high level and pushing the envelope with satellite camps and other NCAA restrictions to both rebuild the program's brand and establish a presence nationally.
Harbaugh went 10-3 in his first season, reaching double-digit wins with a 41-7 stomping of Florida in the Citrus Bowl. He starred in a rap video this summer, took shots on Twitter at Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith, Alabama and Georgia head coaches Nick Saban and Kirby Smart and pretty much did whatever he wanted as long as it stayed within the NCAA's perview. Criticism from fans and media heads alike followed, but he didn't care.
"Everybody has critics, but screw 'em. They're irrelevant," Harbaugh said last week at Big Ten Media Days. "I think that sort of thing applies to football too."
The Wolverines lost two games to their biggest rivals at home in Harbaugh's first season, showing how close yet far away the program is from being a consistent contender. Michigan returns a talented—and very experienced—roster for 2016, leading to some serious hype for Harbaugh's club both in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff. Whether or not it comes to fruition remains to be seen.
Here is an early look at the 2016 Wolverines.
Offense
Ohio State fans don't want to hear this, but if Michigan gets stability at quarterback, its offense should be terrific. Eight returning starters — including four up front — make the unit look strong on paper, especially with the bulk of it being seniors and in their second season with Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Tim Drevno and passing game coordinator Jedd Fisch.
The latter helped Harbaugh turn Iowa graduate transfer Jake Rudock into a more than formidable option behind center in 2015. He'll need to do it again with either John O'Korn, Wilton Speight or Shane Morris. A Houston transfer, O'Korn is in a head-to-head battle with Speight to start, indicative of Morris playing some wide receiver in the spring game. None of those guys are Rudock, who was brilliant late in the season (168.3 passer rating in the final five games) before getting hurt against Ohio State.
| Head Coach | Jim Harbaugh (2nd season, 10-3 career record) |
| 2015 Record | 10-3, 6-2 (3rd in Big Ten East) |
| 2015 Postseason | Beat Florida 41-7 in Citrus Bowl |
| Biggest Losses | QB Jake Rudock, FS Jarrod Wilson, four top LBs, DE Willie Henry |
| Biggest Returnees | RB De'Veon Smith, TE Jake Butt, CB Jourdan Lewis, LB/S Jabrill Peppers |
| Summary | Jim Harbaugh's second Michigan team is loaded with senior experience. |
| Matchup | Nov. 26, 2016: Michigan at Ohio State, kickoff TBA. |
Whoever Harbaugh tabs at starter is set to get an opportunity to work with a host of names that feel like they've been in Ann Arbor forever: Tight end and Pickerington North product Jake Butt, receivers Amara Darboh and Jehu Chesson, running back De'Veon Smith and linemen Kyle Kalis, Ben Braden, Erick Magnuson and Grant Newsome are all seniors. All but one of those guys (Newsome) is a returning starter.
Smith is joined by Drake Johnson former five-star recruit Ty Isaac and one-time Ohio State commit Kareem Walker in the backfield. Isaac ran for 78 yards in the spring game, a nice sight for Harbaugh in order to establish depth in the backfield. The Wolverines like to run the ball straight at you, so having a fullback with some playing experience like Henry Poggi will help despite Sione Houma's graduation.
Harbaugh loves his tight ends too, so getting Butt to return is huge. He, Chesson and Darboh all caught at least 50 passes in 2015, but getting used to a new guy again will be a challenge. Rudock got the ball out quickly a year ago and connected with Chesson (nine touchdowns) on some explosive plays. Harbaugh is looking for someone else to do that again this fall.
All of those seniors returned for another chance at a Big Ten and national championship, truly believing in what Harbaugh is selling. They also haven't beat Ohio State yet. The regular season finale will surely factor into who wins the Big Ten East, setting up to be an annual affair that could rival the days of Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler.
Michigan visits Columbus (assuming everyone stays healthy) with plenty of experience on an offense that averaged 31.4 points per game in 2015, fourth highest in the Big Ten. Don't forget about linebacker/safety Jabrill Peppers popping up on that side of the ball too — Harbaugh and the Michigan players at media days raved about his athletic ability and ball skills. The Wolverines are sure to utilize him as much as they can in 2016.
Defense
Former defensive coordinator and current Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin worked wonders with Michigan's defense a season ago, allowing only a total of 14 points in five straight wins following the season-opening loss at Utah. Three straight shutouts came in that stretch against BYU, Maryland and Northwestern. Not exactly world beaters on offense, but shutouts are shutouts.
Harbaugh replaced Durkin with Don Brown, whose Boston College Eagles led the country in total defense in 2015. He is tasked with replacing four linebackers—Joe Bolden, Desmond Morgan, Royce Jenkins-Stone and James Ross—while searching for more depth on the defensive line.
Indiana and Ohio State both broke the 40-point barrier against Michigan in November last season, doing so by torching the Wolverines on the ground after injuries to end Mario Ojemudia and tackle Ryan Glasglow. Depth became the issue for the Wolverines as the Hoosiers and Buckeyes combined for 676 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in those two games. Yikes.
Brown gets four of his five top tacklers on the unit back, however, losing only Willie Henry. Chris Wormley is a senior trying to replicate his team-leading 14.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. Taco Charlton and Maurice Hurst look to become first-time starters but will be pushed by the No. 1 recruit in the 2016 class, Rashan Gary. Harbaugh addressed the defensive line's depth issue in his second class with five commits but it will take some of the young guys time to develop.
Ben Gedeon, yet another senior, is set to start at inside linebacker but how the other guys fall into place should be determined in camp. Either way, how well the front seven performs as a whole depends on the line because Michigan's secondary is one of the best in the Big Ten.
Cornerback Jourdan Lewis set a school record with 22 passes broken up in 2015 even though teams hardly threw his way. Fellow senior Jeremy Clark is back on the other side and safety Delano Hill (another senior) also returns. Peppers is the wild card and the unit will take a hit with longtime starter Jarrod Wilson's graduation. But overall it is excellent, deep and experienced. The Wolverines allowed just 158.5 yards per game passing in 2015 and return three starters in their secondary in addition to Peppers.
Brown has plenty of experience and six returning starters to work with during his first year in Ann Arbor. If Gary can help provided stability and depth to the defensive line, Michigan's defense should be strong once again.
Michigan opens its second season under Jim Harbaugh with five straight home games, including its first two Big Ten contests against Penn State and Wisconsin. Road games at Michigan State, Iowa and finally Ohio State wait in the wings in the final five weeks of the 2016 slate — certainly not easy, but the schedule isn't terribly difficult outside of that.
Hype for Harbaugh's second team will continue to mount until it falters, which might not happen for a while. Urban Meyer and Ohio State routed the Wolverines 42-13 last November with a bludgeoning rushing attack that accounted for five touchdowns.
If Ohio State's young roster develops and both teams stay healthy, the final game of the regular season could determine who wins the East Division and plays for the Big Ten Championship.
Isn't that how it is supposed to be?
