Michigan Releases First Depth Chart Of 2015 Season

By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby

In preparation for one of the first college football games of the year between Michigan and Utah on Thursday, the Wolverines released their first depth chart on Monday.

Coach Jim Harbaugh initially waited to release a depth chart, since Utah was delaying the release of theirs, too. He said at a press conference last week that in the interest of fair competition, he was copying the Utes' timeline.

Now, though, not much light has been shed on the starting quarterback competition, which has been debated all offseason. The first-string quarterback was listed as "Shane Morris OR Jake Rudock," with the second string listing "Alex Malzone OR Wilton Speight." It's likely that no one – besides the team and coaching staff themselves – will know who's lining up behind center until whoever it is trots out for the first series on Thursday.

Morris, a junior, has started two games in his career and played in 10, completing 14 of 40 passes last season for 128 yards in five games. He has never thrown a touchdown pass for Michigan.

Rudock joined the team as a graduate transfer this offseason after playing four seasons at Iowa. Last year, he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 2,436 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. This would be Rudock's last year of eligibility.

Several other "OR"s graced the depth chart released Monday. On offense, several competitions are either still continuing, or results are not being released to the public. Those spots where a starter wasn't officially listed were the second-string tight end spot, the first-team wide receiver spots and backup running back spots.

De'Veon Smith was named the starting running back.

A starter was named at every defensive position, except for one defensive tackle spot, where both Chris Wormley and Matt Godin were listed with an "OR" in between.

Michigan kicks off the college football season Thursday in Salt Lake City at 8:30 ET.

In:
• Jim Harbaugh
• Utah
• Michigan