This Is Michigan’s Best Offensive Line Ever

Michigan has now received the Joe Moore Award, which matches to the nation’s greatest offensive line, two years in a row, which has by no means occurred earlier than. Offensive line coach Sherrone Moore appears to be a wunderkind in terms of creating linemen and he is solely getting higher. While you mix what Moore is able to, with Michigan’s embarrassment of riches within the offensive line room, you may have what thoughts up being one of the best and deepest offensive line in U-M historical past. There won’t be a top-ten or perhaps a first-round draft choose on the OL, however prime to backside, it is as robust as its ever been.

Left Guard & Proper Guard

Let’s get the locks out of the best way. When left guard Trevor Keegan and proper guard Zak Zinter introduced they they’d be returning, issues received so much simpler up entrance for Moore and Michigan. Keegan and Zinter would possibly make up one of the best guard duo within the nation and so they’ll additionally assist out with whoever finally ends up taking part in between them at heart and out on the perimeters at each sort out spots.

If both of them have been to get dinged up, Gio El-Hadi confirmed final season that he is greater than able to filling in. Versatile linemen Karsen Barnhart and Trente Jones may additionally probably fill in at guard in a pinch relying on the place the 2 proper tackles find yourself taking part in. Arizona State switch LaDarius Henderson additionally has expertise at guard so he may assist out if mandatory relying on the place he finally ends up at.

Middle

Dropping a man like Rimington Award winner Olu Oluwatimi hurts, however all Michigan did was return to the portal and discover a Rimington Award watch lister in Drake Nugent to interchange him. The Stanford switch is clearly a wise man and he is received two years of eligibility left. The 6-1, 300-pounder began 12 video games for the Cardinal final yr, which clearly means he is prepared for the sector. Michigan has some kids ready within the wings, however they’ve zero begins and little or no taking part in time interval beneath their belts. Will he be capable of stave off these younger, up-and-comers in Raheem Anderson, Reece Atteberry and Greg Crippen? That is still to be seen, however the entire conditions appears good for Nugent to slip proper in and choose up the place Olu left off.

Left Sort out & Proper Sort out

The 2 sort out spots are the place issues get actually attention-grabbing. 

Michigan began each Jones (6 video games) and Barnhart (8 video games) at proper sort out final yr, and Barnhart really began six video games at left sort out and two video games at left guard prior to now as nicely, so he has a whole lot of place versatility. Andrew Gentry can be on the roster now after finishing his Mormon mission proper after highschool and spending a yr in this system getting a few of his soccer energy again. The 6-7, 312-pounder seems to have the dimensions and skill to play both sort out place if want be. Now you throw in former five-star and Stanford Cardinal proper sort out Myles Hinton, and you’ve got a serious log jam. Hinton began 16 video games at proper sort out over the past two seasons and goes 6-7, 320 kilos. He is greater and bulkier than Barnhart and Jones, however not fairly as athletic in area. It is going to be actually attention-grabbing to see how issues play out at that spot. 

At left sort out, you may have Jeff Persi returning, who did begin a recreation in 2022 in Ryan Hayes’ absence. At 6-8, 309 kilos, Persi has that prototypical construct for a left sort out with the specified size able to defending a right-handed quarterback’s blind facet. He hasn’t performed a lot, however he is been groomed to be the following man. That appeared to be the route till Michigan inked Henderson, who began 29 video games throughout his time as a Solar Satan, together with 9 at left sort out. Which means he is clearly extra skilled at left guard, however at 6-5, 310 kilos, Henderson can play LT. Clearly Barnhart has finished it earlier than, and in idea, Jones may play on the left facet as nicely. At 6-8, 311 kilos, Tristan Bounds can be an attention-grabbing participant, however he is performed in simply 4 video games in mop-up time throughout his two-year stint at U-M to date.

Nevertheless it shakes out, you will have some actually gifted and succesful offensive linemen not beginning for Michigan within the fall. There’s simply a lot depth and so many versatile gamers on the roster that some actually good gamers are going to be watching from the sidelines. In fact, depth is essential within the trenches, and Michigan has loads of it. It is now as much as Sherrone Moore to seek out the 5 greatest, get them to jell and chase one other Joe Moore Award.