CB Vincent Gray & LB Cam McGrone, Michigan

Sam Webb, The Michigan Insider: There’s a great deal of playing time up for grabs on Michigan’s 2019 defense, and the two redshirt freshmen best positioned to seize some of it are cornerback Vincent Gray and linebacker Cam McGrone.

Gray has the clearest path to the field due to the departures of David Long (3rd round, Los Angeles Rams) and Brandon Watson (free agent, Jacksonville Jaguars) to the NFL. After joining Michigan’s 2018 class as a late pickup just two weeks before signing day, the former Rochester (Mich.) Adams star went on to outperform his ranking as the no. 63 corner and no. 700 overall in the 247Sorts composite. By the end of fall camp he’d move past the freshmen rated higher than him at his position (including former Under Armour All American Myles Sims, who had enrolled early) to make the travel squad in the opener versus Notre Dame. Depth kept Gray off the field, but he did see action in two games on special teams and one on defense. He experienced growing pains in spring ball and likely will again in the fall, but his coaches are excited by his upside. At 6-foot-2, 184 pounds, he brings has the length and physicality Don Brown covets on the corner.

At linebacker the Wolverines lost the best player from last year’s team when Devin Bush Jr. declared early for the draft. The starting middle backer spots this year will likely be manned by veterans Josh Ross and Devin Gill, but McGrone will undoubtedly fit into the mix. He comes closer to Bush’s combination of speed and athleticism than any other linebacker on the roster. At 6-1, 228 lbs. McGrone has been timed at 4.6 in the forty. His playmaking ability while at Indianapolis (Ind.) Warren Central earned him his ranking as the no. 7 outside linebacker and no. 118 overall in the 247Sports composite. He was also selected for the Army All American Bowl. Like Gray, McGrone’s obviously lack of experience will lead to growing pains, but his athletic upside will make it very hard for his coaches to keep him off the field.