Linebacker
| WILL | MIKE | VIPER | SAM |
| Josh Ross | Cam McGrone | Mike Barrett (or) Anthony Solomon | Mike Barrett |
| Charles Thomas (or) Ben VanSumeren | Edward Warinner (or) Josh Ross | Makari Paige (or) William Mohan | Jaylen Harrell |
Michigan had some attrition at linebacker this offseason with Khaleke Hudson and Jordan Glasgow getting drafted. However, Josh Ross returns after an early-season injury last year caused him to redshirt. Due to Cam McGrone’s level of play, Ross is moving back to the weak-side linebacker spot, where he split time in 2018 with Devin Gil. McGrone should take a big step forward in the middle, but there will be a new face at VIPER. Right now, it seems like it’s Michael Barrett’s job to lose, but Anthony Solomon didn’t redshirt last year for a reason, and saw some time late last year practicing at the hybrid position. Barrett, meanwhile, cross-trained at the SAM position, which was popularized the past two years by New England Patriots second-round pick Josh Uche.
The backups are less obvious. If something were to happen to McGrone, Ross could move right back to MIKE. But Michigan also received a transfer from MSU in Edward Warinner, son of offensive line coach Ed Warinner. A former three-star recruit, Warinner could challenge to get into games, especially with Jordan Anthony having entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Charles Thomas was likened by Jim Harbaugh to Devin Bush when he first arrived, but seemed to be out with injury last year — though it wasn’t spoken of formally. We put him at WILL along with Ben VanSumeren, who played running back, fullback, H-back and tight end last year, but confirmed via Twitter that he’s back to linebacker, which he played in high school
For the backup VIPER, we put two true freshmen in there: West Bloomfield (MI) product Makari Paige and Brooklyn (NY) Erasmus Hall’s William Mohan — both early-enrollees. Mohan’s film indicates that he’s a perfect VIPER candidate and Paige was long recruited for the position along with safety. Both should get some work there, but there’s no telling whether or not either will see the field in year one without having the benefits of spring practice this year.
At SAM, it might be a year too early for Jaylen Harrell, another new signee, but he seems to be something of a Josh Uche carbon copy.
Don’t count out: Second-year dual-sport man Joey Velazquez, who was just getting acclimated last year to the college game.