Angelique S. Chengelis predicts Michigan’s starting lineup

Go through the gallery above to see predictions for Michigan’s 2017 starting lineup by Angelique S. Chengelis of The Detroit News.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh makes it clear every spring and pretty much throughout the season that there are no guarantees. No player is entitled to a starting position, and everyone should constantly work to maintain a job or challenge for one.

He wraps all of that into one tidy word – meritocracy.

Even those who expect to start this fall know that the depth chart should be written in pencil.

“There’s a lot of competition still,” fifth-year senior Patrick Kugler, who appears to be the starting center entering the fall, said at the conclusion of spring practice. “I expect to start. Everyone should expect to start. There’s a lot of tight competition. It’s just about getting the best five out there. If you don’t think you’re one of the best five then you really shouldn’t be here at the University of Michigan.”

Kugler was talking about the offensive line, but his commentary applies to every position.

Certainly, the team started to take shape during the fall, but an influx of freshmen – on top of the early-enrollee players already on campus – will arrive in Ann Arbor soon to go through summer workouts and preseason camp.

Knowing that positions are always in flux, here’s a best guess at the starting lineup this fall – subject to change!

achengelis@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @chengelis