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This series will look at five players who played either a little or not at all during this Michigan football season but will be, by the time the end of next season rolls around, names you'll know. No. 5 -- Chris Bryant
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- While Michigan returns a lot of its depth and much of its talent on offense next season, one place where the Wolverines have to replace players is on the offensive line. Center David Molk and right tackle Mark Huyge are both graduating, leaving two slots to fill on the offensive line. There's a good chance guard Michael Schofield will move to right tackle, sliding into the spot vacated by Huyge. Center is an open competition among at least three candidates in Ricky Barnum, Rocko Khoury and Jack Miller. But if Schofield moves over, it'll leave a spot open at guard -- one that could be filled by redshirt freshman Chris Bryant. The 6-foot-4, 341-pound Chicago product impressed the Wolverines coaches during the second half of the season and leading into Michigan's 23-20 overtime win over Virginia Tech in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Multiple times during December, Bryant's name came up as someone who has impressed, which means he could end up on the field next season. A three-star prospect coming out of Simeon, he could be a massive space-eater in the middle of the offensive line helping to create holes for running back Fitzgerald Toussaint and also neutralize some of the bigger defensive tackles in the Big Ten. Worst-case scenario: Bryant ends up on the two-deep next season and part of an offensive line rotation as Michigan continues to try and build depth at the position. Best case scenario: Bryant wins the job, giving Michigan another formidable lineman -- and potential four-year starter -- next to either Schofield or Taylor Lewan on the offensive line to help ease the transition for whoever Michigan's new center is.
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