The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133482
90 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW OFFENSIVE LINE 90 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW OFFENSIVE LINE PLAYER BIOS POSITION COACH Ed Warinner is entering his sec- ond season as the offensive line coach for the Wolverines and be- ginning his 36th year in college football. He has worked on the offensive side of the ball for the last 27 seasons and has spent 21 of them working directly with the line. In Warinner's first year with the Wolverines, the offensive line made great strides and award season backed it up. Left tackle Jon Runyan Jr., a first-time starter, was named first-team All-Big Ten, while left guard Ben Bredeson earned second-team All-Big Ten honors, and right guard Michael Onwenu and center Cesar Ruiz were each tabbed third-team All-Big Ten. As a unit, Warinner's crew reduced the amount of sacks and tackles for loss allowed while contributing to a Michigan offense that registered the fifth-great- est yardage output in school history (5,457 yards). Warinner joined Michigan after spending the previ- ous season as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Minnesota, where he helped direct a ground attack that produced 2,153 yards and saw three backs average 4.5 yards per carry or better. Prior to 2017, Warinner coached at Ohio State from 2012-16. He spent his first three seasons there as offensive line coach and was promoted to offen- sive coordinator in 2015. He was part of a staff that led the team to two College Football Playoff berths, the 2014 national championship and a win over Notre Dame in the 2015 Fiesta Bowl. During his ten- ure in Columbus, the Buckeyes broke single-season program records in 11 offensive categories. Before Warinner's time with the Buckeyes, he worked with the offensive line and as a run game coordinator at Notre Dame, and also held prior posi- tions as either an offensive line coach or offensive coordinator at Kansas, Illinois, Air Force and Army. He coached linebackers and the secondary at Michigan State in 1985-86, right after he began his coaching career overseeing running backs at Akron in 1984. Warinner was recognized by FootballScoop.com as the Offensive Line Coach of the Year in both 2012 and 2014, and remains the first and only coach to ever earn the honor twice. RETURNING PLAYERS BEN BREDESON • OG Sr. • Hartland, Wis. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 320 • Started all 13 games for the Wolverines at left guard and served as a team captain in 2018. • Named to the All-Big Ten second team by the coaches and media in his sophomore and junior seasons. • Received the team's Toughest Player Award in 2018. • Started 12 games at left guard in 2017, after he played in every game and made eight starts at left guard as a true freshman. • Named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team in 2016. • Ranked as a four-star recruit, the No. 1 player in Wisconsin, and the No. 2 offensive guard and No. 60 overall talent in the nation by Rivals. CHUCK FILIAGA • OT R-So. • Aledo, Texas Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 341 • Played in nine games during the 2018 season, seeing snaps at left guard in four and on special teams in six. • Redshirted his first season in Ann Arbor. • Named first-team All-State by the Associated Press and USA Today in 2016. • Tabbed as a four-star prospect, and the No. 16 offensive tackle and No. 175 overall talent in his class by Rivals. RYAN HAYES • OT R-Fr. • Traverse City, Mich. Ht.: 6-7 • Wt.: 271 • Redshirted during his freshman season in Ann Arbor. • Rated as a three-star recruit, the No. 17 player in Michigan and No. 48 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals. JOEL HONIGFORD • OG R-So. • Sugarcreek, Ohio Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 295 • Saw game action in two con- tests during the 2018 season, making his debut against West- ern Michigan at right guard, af- ter redshirting in 2017. • Named first-team Associated Press All-Ohio Divi- sion V as a senior. • Listed as a three-star prospect, the No. 19 player in Ohio and the No. 49 offensive tackle in the nation by Rivals. JALEN MAYFIELD • OT R-Fr. • Grand Rapids, Mich. Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 296 • Redshirted during his freshman season, but did appear in three games. • Was a force on defense during his high school career, recording 96 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, 17 sacks and three fumble re- coveries, while also anchoring the offensive line. • Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. • Ranked by Rivals as a four-star recruit, the No. 4 player in Michigan and the No. 17 offensive tackle in the country. MICHAEL ONWENU • OG Sr. • Detroit Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 350 • Started every game at right guard for Michigan during his junior season and was named to the All-Big Ten third team by the coaches. • Saw action in 12 games during his sophomore season, including nine starts. • Played in nine games as a freshman, seeing ac- tion at offensive guard, nose tackle and on spe- cial teams. • Competed in the U.S. Army All-American Game. • Ranked by Rivals as a four-star recruit, and the No. 7 offensive guard and No. 147 overall player nationally. CESAR RUIZ • C Jr. • Camden, N.J. Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 319 • Started at center in every game for Michigan in 2018 and was named to the All-Big Ten third team by the coaches for his performance. • Played in 10 games and made five starts at right guard during his freshman campaign. • Tabbed as a MaxPreps second-team All-American and named to the USA Today All-Florida second team as a senior. • Rated as a four-star recruit, and the No. 1 center and No. 41 overall talent in the nation by Rivals. After redshirting last fall, Jalen Mayfield (above) is competing with redshirt sopho- more Andrew Stueber to become the Wol- verines' starter at right tackle. PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN