Which offensive players will not be here in 2021?

It’s time for unbridled speculation, because this is sadly a rather dull time to be a Michigan fan, what with all the bad football and lack of football we’re seeing. Keep in mind that this information is purely speculative.

So what kind of attrition are we likely to see going into the 2021 season?

Hit the jump.

QUARTERBACK
Expected depth chart: Cade McNamara (RS So.), Joe Milton (RS Jr.), J.J. McCarthy (Fr.), Dan Villari (RS Fr.)
What might happen: I said last year not to expect that both Milton and Dylan McCaffrey would still be here beyond 2020, and McCaffrey disappeared just prior to the season. Now a QB controversy has opened up between McNamara and Milton. McNamara has the better passing stats (60.6% completions, 5 TD, 0 INT) but little upside as a runner, while Milton is a below average passer (56.7% completions, 4 TD, 4 INT) with a shred of running ability (2.9 yards/carry, 1 TD). It is reasonable to expect one of these players to transfer. McCarthy says he’s locked in to signing with Michigan, and Villari shouldn’t have expected to play by 2021, anyway.

RUNNING BACK
Expected depth chart: Hassan Haskins (RS Jr.), Zach Charbonnet (Jr.), Blake Corum (So.), Christian Turner (RS Jr.), Tavierre Dunlap (Fr.)
What might happen: Haskins seems to have taken the lead with this coaching staff, and despite glowing off-season reports, Charbonnet has been reduced to a bit player. How long can we expect a former 5-star running back to play second fiddle? Turner, meanwhile, has 64 carries in his career and is buried on the depth chart. He originally opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, and while he has opted back in, he has yet to play. Anything can happen, but it seems unlikely that he’s going to vault into a significant role.

WIDE RECEIVER
Expected depth chart: Ronnie Bell (Sr.), Cornelius Johnson (Jr.), Giles Jackson (Jr.), Roman Wilson (So.), Xavier Worthy (Fr.), A.J. Henning (So.), Mike Sainristil (Jr.), Cristian Dixon (Fr.), Andrel Anthony (Fr.)
What might happen: Many people expect Worthy to sign with Alabama later this month, so that takes away perhaps Michigan’s best player in the 2021 class. Aside from him, though, there are a bunch of talented wideouts trying to duke it out for playing time. Michigan has too many talented guys to expect them all to stick it out for long, but at the same time, the depth chart has yet to shake out. It might be another year before we see too much of a shakeup for a group that is very young.

TIGHT END
Expected depth chart: Erick All (Jr.), Luke Schoonmaker (RS Jr.), Matt Hibner (RS Fr.), Louis Hansen (Fr.)
What might happen: I don’t expect a whole lot of movement in 2021 other than perhaps seeing another addition, whether by transfer or signee. This current staff has shown they will play multiple tight ends, and with only four scholarship guys scheduled to be on the roster, at least three of them can expect to play regularly.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Expected depth chart:
LT: Ryan Hayes (RS Jr.), Trente Jones (RS So.), Jeffrey Persi (RS Fr.), Giovanni El-Hadi (Fr.), Tristan Bounds (Fr.)
LG: Chuck Filiaga (RS Sr.), Zak Zinter (RS Fr.)
C: Zach Carpenter (RS So.), Nolan Rumler (RS So.), Reece Atteberry (RS Fr.), Raheem Anderson II (Fr.)
RG: Andrew Stueber (RS Sr.), Joel Honigford (RS Sr.), Greg Crippen (Fr.)
RT: Willie Allen (RS Sr.), Karsen Barnhart (RS So.), Trevor Keegan (RS So.), Jack Stewart (RS So.)
What might happen: Most of the 2020 offensive line should return in 2021, and guys with established starting spots usually don’t transfer. Michigan has also received a “commitment” from Willie Allen, a grad transfer offensive tackle. There are a few question marks here, though. If Filiaga loses his job to a younger guy – which is a possibility considering Filiaga’s subpar play – that could lead to a departure. I also would not expect Honigford to stick around for a fifth year, considering his 2020 season has seen him playing tight end. And I always get concerned about guys from a long way away who don’t play much, and that describes Trente Jones. So there could be a lot of movement on the offensive line this off-season, but the starting line should improve while retaining most of its players.

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