Lost amid the coaching chaos following the Gator Bowl (*urp* mini throwup *urp*) was the fact that Michigan is finally returning some talent from one year to the next. No really! We are. Michigan Football leads the Big Ten in returning starters with 20 total returnees. 9 returning starters on offense. 9 returning starters on defense. And both specialists are returning, tho it's arguable that this isn't a good thing. At least with regard to kickoffs and field goals. Ignoring the specialists and focusing on the offense and defense, it's hard not to get excited about the jump we all expect Michigan Football to make next year. Especially when you consider the quality of defensive coordinator on board and all the experience the young players on the defense got last year.

So who's back and who's not? We chart it below.

Returning Offense:

QB: Denard Robinson
RB: Michael Shaw/Vincent Smith (count as one)
WR: Darryl Stonum/Junior Hemingway (count as one), Roy Roundtree
TE: Kevin Koger
C: David Molk
LT: Taylor Lewan
RT: Mark Huyge
RG: Patrick Omameh

Departing Offense:

RT: Perry Dorrestein
LG: Stephen Schilling

Returning Defense:

DE: Craig Roh
NT/DT: Mike Martin
DE: Ryan Van Bergen
LB: Kenny Demens
LB: Carvin Johnson
Safety: Jordan Kovacs, Cameron Gordon
Cornerback: J.T. Floyd, Troy Woolfolk

Departing Defense:

LB: Obi Ezeh
LB: Jonas Mouton
CB: James Rogers

Let me know if I'm missing something here. I didn't count Rogers as a starter because Woolfolk would've started had he not gotten injured, and besides that, everyone in the secondary started at some time or another. I suspect the numbers are actually going to reflect that there are 8 returning starters on defense because of the likely position and scheme changes, but this is what I've got. Corrections in the comments below.