Michigan players are not sweating their No. 16 ranking in the coaches poll. They have bigger things to worry about, like figuring out the best five linemen to start. The team held its first week of fall camp with two practices before pads came on. This is the time to try new things. The Wolverines have six returning starters, but they never found a set combination that felt truly great last season. Now, offensive line coach Jim Harding is shaking up the roster to find the right mix.
Harding Knows The Region
Jim Harding grew up in northern Ohio, so he knows exactly what this region demands. He told reporters on Thursday that college football was always about three specific teams. “For me, growing up, college football was three teams: It was the team down south (Ohio State), it was here (Michigan), and it was Notre Dame,” Harding said. He brings that same physical mindset back to Ann Arbor. Harding is not afraid to move players outside their comfort zones to make the line better. Versatility is the main goal for the group this week.
According to Maize n Brew, the coach is looking for the best five guys to help the team win on Saturdays. “For us it’s all about finding the best five guys to help us be successful on Saturdays,” Harding said. This means players like Evan Link and Brady Norton might shift positions again. Link started at tackle but moved to guard, where he showed real promise. Norton played tackle at Cal Poly before coming to Michigan, and Harding wants to keep him in the tackle mix even though he has played guard. Blake Frazier could also move inside to guard if needed.
One Spot Looks Set
While most spots are up for grabs, one player has a clear lead. Andrew Sprague started every game at right tackle last season and earned All-Big Ten honorable mentions. Harding says the job is Sprague’s “to lose.” The coach expects Sprague to grow as a leader to help the rest of the group gel. The team is looking for a line that is “as close to cemented as possible” before the season starts. This experimentation might seem risky, but it is the only way to fix the issues from last year.
The Wolverines have a new offense that Andrew Marsh called “explosive” in a recent interview. That offense needs a solid front to work. The coaches are not worried about the ranking because they know the work is just starting. They have the talent, and now they need the right lineup. If Harding can lock down the best five, Michigan will be a force in the Big Ten. The fans should expect a physical team that dominates the trenches.
