Michigan Football smart to show interest in possible O-line transfer

Michigan football has shown interest in offensive line transfers already this offseason and it looks like the Wolverines have interest in another.

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about what Michigan football can on offense in 2020. After all, the Wolverines have exciting playmakers returning and seemingly, a couple of good options at quarterback to replace Shea Patterson.

Yet, one thing that could hold back the offense next season is an offensive line that is going to have to replace four starters and some key guys in Cesar Ruiz, Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu and Jon Runyan Jr.

Ruiz is a legit NFL prospect and is likely going to be a top-60 pick in the upcoming NFL draft. He’s going to be tough to replace, along with the three others, who could all make it to the league. Each has earned some type of All-Big Ten honors and played well this past season.

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Over the past two years, Michigan football has done well recruiting on the offensive line and there are some exciting prospects waiting in the wings. At the same time though, none of them are proven and depth is also a concern, which has led the Wolverines to explore the transfer portal.

And according to Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider ($), the Wolverines are interested in another potential target on the offensive line in Indiana tackle Coy Cronk, a former three-star recruit with 40 career starts under his belt.

Cronk is the second offensive tackle in the transfer portal that Michigan football has looked this offseason. The other is Stanford offensive lineman Devery Hamilton, who has started games at tackle and guard. He would be eligible to play right away as would Cronk, who entered the transfer portal after playing just four games last season for the Hoosiers before getting hurt.

Cronk may not be a world-beater, but he’s a 6-foot-5 kid that has a lot of starts under his belt and he could certainly add a solid veteran presence to the tackle position, regardless if he starts or not.

Jalen Mayfield and Ryan Hayes would look to be the favorites to start at tackle next season. Beyond that, the only guy with any experience is Andrew Stueber, so it’s easy to see why Michigan football is looking for guys who have played.

If freshmen such as Trevor Keegan and Trente Jones step up, that depth and experience may not be needed, but right now, the Wolverines are scary thin at tackle, which would make the addition of Cronk make a lot of sense.