One of the biggest reasons for Michigan football fans to be optimistic about the upcoming season is the offensive line.
The O-line got some really good news earlier this week, when former five-star recruit Andrew Babalola confirmed that he was 100 percent healthy. He missed the entire 2025 season after suffering an ACL injury at the end of camp.
The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle is fully recovered, meaning that Michigan football is stocked and loaded on the offensive line, with Jim Harding, one of the best offensive line coaches in college football.
That bodes well for next season. Bryce Underwood and the running back room should be excited. There is still one question, though: who will be the starting five?
Who will be Michigan football's starting offensive line?
There are a few positions that seem guaranteed. It might only be one or two, but Jake Guarnera will be the Wolverines' starting center this season, and he will be among the best players in the Big Ten at his position.
There are plenty of moving parts, or there could be. Babalola is just one interesting piece. The Wolverines actually have three redshirt freshman that started the majority of the games last season. Guarnera started at guard. He will shift over to center.
Andrew Sprague started at right tackle, while Blake Frazier took over at left tackle for Evan Link, following his injury. Frazier wasn't perfect last season, but showed enough to warrant consideration as a full-time starter, especially after his gains this offseason.
Sprague and Guarnera each entered the portal. There were rumors of them going to Texas. Getting each of those players back was huge for Kyle Whittingham. Link has started nearly 20 games in his Michigan football career, and could finally bump inside where he is best suited.
That leaves Babalola, who could play guard or tackle, along with Nathan Efobi, another player with returning starting experience. Brady Norton started games at guard and tackle last season, too.
There are six players with starting experience, plus Babalola. If the five-star proves he is one of the best five, either he or Frazier could bump inside. You'd still have two quality backups, regardless of how it works out, and that doesn't even consider some younger players who could work their way into the mix.
It might take Babalola a minute to regain his form. That could lead to Efobi starting the season, but the five-star will likely become a starter at some point, which isn't a bold take for the highest-rated offensive line recruit in program history.
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