Michigan Football: Phil Steele expects underclassmen to lead Wolverines
College football analyst Phil Steele recently released his preseason All-Big Ten Conference Team for 2020, which features eleven Michigan football players on this year’s squad.
Taking a look at Phil Steele’s list, it’s apparent that a handful of underclassmen will play a significant role on the Michigan football team this upcoming fall. In total, six non-senior athletes garnered selections and include:
1st Team
DE – Aidan Hutchinson – JR.
2nd Team
T – Jalen Mayfield – SO. (RS)
LB – Cameron McGrone – SO. (RS)
S – Daxton Hill – SO.
WR/KR – Giles Jackson – SO.
3rd Team
No Underclassmen
4th Team
RB – Zach Charbonnet – SO.
According to Steele, the University of Michigan football team is well rounded and should see all three units rank in the top-25 from a team perspective. Here are a few takeaways from his appearance on The Wolverine Podcast.
We’re likely to see another open competition for the starting quarterback position heading into camp.
Why can’t Jim Harbaugh ever seem to settle on one guy? Redshirt-junior Dylan McCaffrey and redshirt-sophomore Joe Milton will be neck-and-neck while competing to be the team’s lead signal-caller. Both have limited experience at the college level and could be pushed by redshirt-freshman Cade McNamara, who at the moment is considered a longshot.
What is certain, though, is that whoever gets the job will have plenty of offensive weapons at their disposal. Both Nico Collins and Ronnie Bell are future-NFL draft picks and return at the receiver position. Both showed great promise last season stretching the field for a normally run-first offense.
Bell recently spoke with The Wolverine, an imprint of Rivals, and offered his praise for the position group.
"“I think it’s going to be a tough decision. It’s amazing working with those guys. As a receiver, you’re lucky. You can’t go wrong with whoever is in the game. No matter what’s going on, no matter what the situation is, we got three quarterbacks that are all so elite.”"