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The anchor of Michigan football's offense during the height of its power from 2021-23 wasn't its quarterback − though J.J. McCarthy was excellent − nor was it the running backs, even if Blake Corum was the best modern ball-carrier for the Wolverines since Mike Hart nearly 20 years prior.
Rather, it was the offensive line, which was named the Joe Moore Award winner as the best group in both 2021 and 2022, before it was a semifinalist in 2023.
That unit has taken a step back the past two years, and its return to dominance is critical if the Wolverines are going to get back to the College Football Playoff.
That's one reason new coach Kyle Whittingham called bringing in offensive line coach Jim Harding "a prerequisite" to taking the job, citing Harding's consistency and the trust built through a dozen years of a working relationship. Whittingham pointed to leaky protection as one of the reasons the Wolverines' offense was underwhelming in 2025 under the previous staff, particularly through the air.
“If you watch the tape from last year, Bryce [Underwood] was running for his life quite often,” Whittingham said last week at Big Ten Media Days. “That’s something that led to him not being as successful as he could have been.”
The Wolverines have started fall camp and are less than a month out from the season opener against Western Michigan on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., NBC). Harding said they've mixed and matched different pieces of the line frequently in the first two days.
[ MUST WATCH: Make "Hail Yes!" your go-to Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live on YouTube. ]
For some, it's Harding's first real experience working with them. Andrew Babalola hadn't put on shoulder pads in nearly a year since he tore his ACL last August as a freshman. Evan Link was banged up during spring ball and was only able to participate in the final four of U-M's 15 practices.
As U-M searches for its starting offensive line, two of the positions seem to be well established, starting with right tackle Andrew Sprague, an All-Big Ten honorable mention last season.
"I would say it's his [job] to lose," Harding said. "I don't want to say anything's etched in stone, but I think he's put himself in a position that now my expectation is okay you're pretty locked into what you're doing now I need you to be a little bit more vocal, I need you to ... build this chemistry I need you to, you know, reach out to the younger players and so that's kind of been my challenge to him."
ON THEIR TOES: Michigan football ready to speed things up on offense
The other favorite for a job is center Jake Guarnera. He spoke in the offseason on the "Inside The Trenches" podcast about his comfort after having earned a role on the interior of the line last season and the requirements needed to move to center.
He identified "outside zone, footwork, just being able to gain ground with my first step, and then hands and pass pros" as the areas of emphasis in the offseason. Now, he's seen as the likely anchor of the unit.
"I would say he has established himself as a leader in the room," Harding said. "The kids have a lot of confidence in the way he directs kind of the line of scrimmage, the calls, and such. It would be something where he would have to really, you know, screw something up for me to not feel comfortable playing him on the fifth of September."
The final three jobs − left tackle, left guard and right guard − are up for grabs. The left tackle position will come down to Babalola or Blake Frazier. The guard spots are likely between Link, Nathan Efobi, Brady Norton and Avery Gach. Link has historically played tackle, but U-M started the transition inside last bowl season.
Link will have to prove he's a better option than some who've played exclusively on the inside, such as Efobi. Harding says U-M will have two scrimmages during fall camp leading up to the opener, and the goal is by the end of the second scrimmage to have the starting line "dialed in" and identified.
"My job is to try to find the best five players, and whether that's the most talented or that chemistry piece, those five guys that give us the best opportunity to be successful on Saturday," Harding said. "If that means you know a guy having to play a position that he hasn't played before or even since high school, so be it."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Make "Hail Yes!" your go-to Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live on YouTube.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan working to identify its most important ingredient on offense
Continue reading...
Rather, it was the offensive line, which was named the Joe Moore Award winner as the best group in both 2021 and 2022, before it was a semifinalist in 2023.
That unit has taken a step back the past two years, and its return to dominance is critical if the Wolverines are going to get back to the College Football Playoff.
You must be registered for see images attach
That's one reason new coach Kyle Whittingham called bringing in offensive line coach Jim Harding "a prerequisite" to taking the job, citing Harding's consistency and the trust built through a dozen years of a working relationship. Whittingham pointed to leaky protection as one of the reasons the Wolverines' offense was underwhelming in 2025 under the previous staff, particularly through the air.
“If you watch the tape from last year, Bryce [Underwood] was running for his life quite often,” Whittingham said last week at Big Ten Media Days. “That’s something that led to him not being as successful as he could have been.”
The Wolverines have started fall camp and are less than a month out from the season opener against Western Michigan on Sept. 5 (7:30 p.m., NBC). Harding said they've mixed and matched different pieces of the line frequently in the first two days.
[ MUST WATCH: Make "Hail Yes!" your go-to Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live on YouTube. ]
For some, it's Harding's first real experience working with them. Andrew Babalola hadn't put on shoulder pads in nearly a year since he tore his ACL last August as a freshman. Evan Link was banged up during spring ball and was only able to participate in the final four of U-M's 15 practices.
As U-M searches for its starting offensive line, two of the positions seem to be well established, starting with right tackle Andrew Sprague, an All-Big Ten honorable mention last season.
"I would say it's his [job] to lose," Harding said. "I don't want to say anything's etched in stone, but I think he's put himself in a position that now my expectation is okay you're pretty locked into what you're doing now I need you to be a little bit more vocal, I need you to ... build this chemistry I need you to, you know, reach out to the younger players and so that's kind of been my challenge to him."
ON THEIR TOES: Michigan football ready to speed things up on offense
You must be registered for see images attach
The other favorite for a job is center Jake Guarnera. He spoke in the offseason on the "Inside The Trenches" podcast about his comfort after having earned a role on the interior of the line last season and the requirements needed to move to center.
He identified "outside zone, footwork, just being able to gain ground with my first step, and then hands and pass pros" as the areas of emphasis in the offseason. Now, he's seen as the likely anchor of the unit.
"I would say he has established himself as a leader in the room," Harding said. "The kids have a lot of confidence in the way he directs kind of the line of scrimmage, the calls, and such. It would be something where he would have to really, you know, screw something up for me to not feel comfortable playing him on the fifth of September."
You must be registered for see images
The final three jobs − left tackle, left guard and right guard − are up for grabs. The left tackle position will come down to Babalola or Blake Frazier. The guard spots are likely between Link, Nathan Efobi, Brady Norton and Avery Gach. Link has historically played tackle, but U-M started the transition inside last bowl season.
Link will have to prove he's a better option than some who've played exclusively on the inside, such as Efobi. Harding says U-M will have two scrimmages during fall camp leading up to the opener, and the goal is by the end of the second scrimmage to have the starting line "dialed in" and identified.
"My job is to try to find the best five players, and whether that's the most talented or that chemistry piece, those five guys that give us the best opportunity to be successful on Saturday," Harding said. "If that means you know a guy having to play a position that he hasn't played before or even since high school, so be it."
Tony Garcia is the Michigan beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
Make "Hail Yes!" your go-to Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live on YouTube.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan working to identify its most important ingredient on offense
Continue reading...
