Michigan Football’s offensive line will be elite again in 2022

In our post-spring breakdown of Michigan football’s offensive line, we look at why the Wolverines will be elite once again and maybe even better in the trenches.

We continue with our position-by-position breakdown of Michigan football following its spring practices and our next topic is the offensive line.

Looking back at the 2021 season, Michigan football’s offensive line was named the best in all of college football which earned it the Joe Moore Award. The win over Ohio State and the six rushing touchdowns that paved the way were a huge part of that.

But more than that, Michigan’s offensive identity was based on its ability to run the football with Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum. The Wolverines set the tone against Ohio State on the opening drive when it picked up an early third-and-short with ease.

That identity was critical to Michigan’s Big Ten championship and the good news for U-M fans is that the offensive line is going to be elite again in 2022. In fact, it might be even better.

Why Michigan’s O-line could be even better

The Wolverines will have to replace two starters on the offensive line in center Andrew Vastardis, as well as starting right tackle Andrew Stueber.

Stueber was drafted by the Patriots and as I wrote on draft day, I think he’ll be a solid long-term prospect in the NFL. Not a superstar but a guy that sticks.

However, he wasn’t a star and neither was Vastardis, who was exceptional last season. He played well beyond my expectations and was masterfully making the calls at center.

Replacing him wasn’t going to be easy but Michigan football did a spectacular job of landing ‘Victor’ Oluwatimi of Virginia who was not only an All-American but is one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country according to Pro Football Focus.

Oluwatimi should provide an upgrade at the center position and out at left tackle, Ryan Hayes will be starting once again and he’s being projected as a first-round pick or at least an early-round selection in the 2023 draft.

The guards will be the same as they were at the end of the last season with Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan holding down those jobs and at right tackle, Michigan should also be better with Trente Jones, who has the look of a future pro along with Zinter and Keegan.

That doesn’t even mention the top backup (for now) Karsen Barnhart, who is more than capable of starting and was viewed as basically a starting-caliber player last season. In fact, he did start multiple games with two at left guard in 2021, as well as four at left tackle in 2020.

Greg Crippen is another really solid player inside at center or guard, as is Raheem Anderson. Michigan would probably feel good about any of those guys in the lineup and just like last season, this group easily goes 8-deep in terms of starting-caliber players, while Giovanni El-Hadi looked pretty solid this spring too.

Much of the talk this offseason has centered on the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass-catchers, and rightfully so, but this offensive line is going to be elite and it’s going to be nasty.

It could also be even better than it was in 2021.