Michigan football team's depth chart reveals one big surprise Monday

Carvin Johnson

Mark Moundros started the offseason as a fullback. Carvin Johnson arrived in Ann Arbor as a safety and saw snaps at cornerback.

Together, they could be two-thirds of the Michigan football team’s starting linebacker corps, according to a depth chart released by the team Monday morning.

After an off-season with little concrete information about position competitions, their emergence at linebacker is one of the more interesting storylines revealed by the depth chart.

Especially Johnson’s rise.

Moundrus’ move from fullback has been well-documented, and the Big Ten Network noted his contention for playing time in its season preview two weeks ago.

But coach Rich Rodriguez and defensive coordinator Greg Robinson never mentioned that Johnson, a true freshman, was in the competition at the hybrid linebacker position vacated by Stevie Brown.

In fact, as late as last week, Rodriguez said Johnson could see time at cornerback in the aftermath of Troy Woolfolk’s season-ending injury. In the meantime, Johnson’s made a name for himself at linebacker.

“He’s getting interceptions and laying the wood on tackles,” defensive tackle Mike Martin said. “He’s just a hard player, and he doesn’t say much. He just gets up and plays the next play, which is what I really like about him.”

Rodriguez cautioned the hybrid position hadn’t been solidified yet, and that anything could happen over the remaining four practices before the team opens the season against UConn on Saturday.

Right now, though, he likes what Johnson brings to the position.

“He’s a young, athletic guy who is a very quick learner,” Rodriguez said. “He gives us some athleticism at that spot.”

Mark Huyge (72) beat out Taylor Lewan for Michigan’s starting left tackle position, according to a depth chart released by the team Monday. Tate Forcier (5) is still in a three-way battle with Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner for the starting quarterback position. (AnnArbor.com file photo)

At middle linebacker, Moundros is slated as a possible starter along with senior Obi Ezeh. Kenny Demens is listed at middle linebacker in a backup role.

Elsewhere on the depth chart, Mark Huyge has claimed the starting left tackle position after competing with Taylor Lewan during summer camp. Perry Dorrestein is listed as the right tackle starter.

Huyge started nine of 12 games last year, toggling between right guard and right tackle amid an injury-riddled season for the offensive line.

“It helps that he understands what I’m doing,” left guard and team captain Steve Schilling said. “That level of communication and trust is there with me and Mark. We know, we kind of know, where each other is going to be and what we expect out of each other.”

Other items of note from the depth chart:

At quarterback, the chart reads Denard Robinson “or” Devin Gardner “or” Tate Forcier.

At right cornerback, senior James Rogers is listed as the starter, and the backups are Terrence Talbott or Cullen Christian.

At running back, the depth chart reads Vincent Smith or Michael Shaw, followd by Michael Cox, Fitzgerald Toussaint, Stephen Hopkins and Teric Jones, who has moved from safety.