Michigan Football: 5 position battles to watch heading into fall camp

Right tackle

We have talked about the right tackle battle a few times and I think it’s going to be one of the most heated throughout fall camp, assuming all parties are healthy.

Karsen Barnhart was once seen as the favorite but now will have to beat out Trente Jones to be the starter at right tackle to open the 2022 season.

Jones was a big-time prospect coming out of high school and he’s been biding his time. He started to see some playing time last season as a reserve and took over the right tackle job in the spring.

I don’t see Barnhart overtaking him, but that doesn’t mean Barnhart isn’t going to play. The coaching staff should feel really good about him as their sixth offensive lineman and I see him getting snaps at tackle and guard.

You almost never make it through a season with the same five offensive linemen, so guys like Barnhart, Greg Crippen, Raheem Anderson and some others are going to have to play this season and if that guy is Barnhart, that’s a reassuring thought because he’s already good enough to be a full-time starter.

Michigan football’s offensive line is loaded and should be one of the best in the country. But don’t expect Barnhart to go quietly in the night. He’ll make Jones earn it this fall.