Michigan’s pursuit for its five top offensive linemen has begun

Michigan’s days of returning multi-year starters with extensive experience up front are over.

Six offensive linemen with starting experience have left for the NFL. In addition to a first-year head coach, the Wolverines return a drastically different-looking line this fall, with a few old players, some new ones, and a young player or two who could make an impact.

We’ll begin with the coach, Grant Newsome, 27, who succeeds Sherrone Moore, the recently upgraded head coach in charge of developing a deep, tough line that won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards in 2021 and 2022.

Newsome, a former offensive tackle, has been preparing for this shift for some time, transitioning from graduate assistant to tight ends coach a few years ago.

What’s his goal? “Come in and continue the standard that’s been set, the coaching style and mentoring that’s been done by Sherrone,” Newsome said in a statement. “It’s not a deal where I come in and try to say we’re flipping this entirely on its head.”

While some teaching may differ and more may be required, “there hasn’t had to be large-scale changes or a shift in mentality.”

Instead, after just six practices, evaluating is the name of the game. This time last year, Michigan had a core group of starters who knew what to expect. The challenge was then to integrate the group of transfers.

This year, more questions loom. Myles Hinton, Michigan’s only returning player with multiple starts last season, is expected to lead the line at left tackle. Josh Priebe, an offseason transfer from Northwestern where he played 29 games as left guard, is certain to start. The expectation is that senior Greg Crippen will finally get his chance to shine at center.

“One thing that we have that kind of gets viewed as an oversight, just because we lost six guys who started a ton of games — it’s not like the next group is all freshmen or redshirt freshmen,” Newsome went on to say.

In fact, the other anticipated guard, redshirt junior Giovanni El-Hadi, began three games in 2022. Even redshirt junior Jeff Persi, who competed with Andrew Gentry at right tackle, received a start that year.

“There are a lot of actual starts in that room,” Newsome explained. “A lot of guys have played football at a high level. Now it’s up to them, myself as coach, and the coaching staff, to identify the best five players and continue to develop beyond that, as well as discover the best chemistry in the room.

In other news, players have complained about the Michigan offense’s slow start to spring practice, which is understandable considering the uncertainty at quarterback and the new-look offensive line. But that’s also what this time of year is about: evaluating, experimenting, and figuring out where players could fit best.

And, while things may look different up front this fall, and Michigan may confront some naysayers who doubt the team’s ability to maintain its dominance, the coaches do not appear concerned.

“I’m really confident in this group,” Moore, who doubled as Michigan’s offensive line coach and coordinator last season, said recently. “The cool thing about last year is that we had so many games where we were fortunately ahead, we had a lot of guys get playing time in quality minutes. There was a time where we talked about the starting offensive line not playing a fourth quarter — for like eight games.”