Michigan Football: Mason Cole’s move to left tackle must be a success
Michigan football has one of the best centers in the country in Mason Cole, but this season, it looks like he will be playing left tackle instead.
Following the 2017 NFL draft, prognosticators always start looking ahead to the next year and when they did, Mason Cole of Michigan football was one of the top players on the list.
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Cole made it on Matt Miller of the Bleacher Report’s top-50 prospects list and he was regarded as one of the top centers in the 2018 draft class. Yet, his final season for Michigan football looks like it will be spent at left tackle.
On the surface, moving Cole to left tackle might sound strange. But considering he started there as a freshman and sophomore, it’s not that big a transition. The question is, can he play as well there as he did last season at center?
That may take some time to answer, but there’s no doubt that moving Cole to left tackle helps UM puts its five best offensive lineman on the field.
When Cole was first moved in the spring, some thought it was to pave the way for freshman Cesar Ruiz, who came in as the nation’s top center.
Ruiz enrolled early and had a pretty good spring. If things go as a planned, he will be compete for the starting center job with Patrick Kugler.
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Kugler has been the backup center the past few seasons, but doesn’t have the raw ability of Ruiz, who is a massive prospect at 6-3, 316 pounds. He was the 44th overall recruit in the nation according to 247sports and it seems likely he will be the starting center sooner rather than later.
That leaves Cole at left tackle. Certainly, he may not be the same NFL prospect at tackle, that he is at center. But NFL teams aren’t dumb. They have a full season of tape to look at. Also, versatility is never a bad thing.
Cole is just a better option that anyone else Michigan football has right now. If Ruiz isn’t ready, the move may be futile. Kugler is a decent option, but he’s not ideal. Yet, Michigan might be worse off at tackle if no move is made.
At 6-5, 305, it’s possible Cole could show NFL teams he is a tackle prospect. To me, he doesn’t have the look of an elite left tackle, but he has the whole season to show what he can do.
NFL draft expert Tony Pauline recently said Cole could be a late-first round pick. He also complemented Cole on his blocking ability.
For his part, Cole wants to do what’s best for the team. That’s another admirable quality. Michigan football needs him to succeed at left tackle and there’s a good chance he will. That will allow Ruiz to play center and the Wolverines to have their five best on the field.
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Offensive line is a question mark for the Wolverines, but it doesn’t have to be a weakness. If Cole transitions well to left tackle and Ruiz can handle center, UM will be better off than expected.