The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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28 THE WOLVERINE DECEMBER 2021 into one of the most productive players in the nation at his position. "The biggest difference [in my devel- opment] is film," Ojabo said. "Just know- ing my opponent and knowing myself. Figuring out the rules, just everything. Diving deep into the game and putting in hours." From the sixth outing of the season, a tilt at Wisconsin, to the end of the year, Ojabo totaled 10 sacks, including a six- game stretch in which he registered at least a half-sack in each. In the biggest game of the year against Ohio State, he had a fourth-quarter sack and drew a holding call to finish the regular season with 11 sacks. While terrorizing opposing quarter- backs, he's also racked up five forced fum- bles, a new single-season school record. "'Jabo' is crazy," redshirt freshman cor- nerback DJ Turner said. "He can come off the edge, you can't run by him. He can force fumbles. He does it all, for real. I don't know anybody that I know, person- ally, that has grown as fast as he did. But he's been doing this." Now, Ojabo, who didn't show up on draft boards before the 2021 campaign, has been tabbed as the No. 10 overall 2022 NFL Draft prospect and second-best out- side linebacker in his class. "I keep saying it's like a dream," Ojabo said of his emergence. "I go home every day, and in my head just kind of think, man what's going on? A lot is going on. I'm improving every day. But, yeah, it's a dream, honestly." Whether Ojabo is at Michigan or in the NFL next season, his trajectory will more than likely continue pointing up, and he still has more to prove. "The sky's the limit," he said. "Five years ago, I didn't even really know what the sport was. Now, I'm getting sacks for the University of Michigan. Who knows what five years could bring? I'm all for it and just taking it day by day, honestly." SIXTH-YEAR C ANDREW VASTARDIS There's a reason why redshirt fresh- man quarterback Cade McNamara was teary-eyed when talking about sixth-year senior center Andrew Vastardis with ABC sideline reporter Molly McGrath follow- ing the team's win at Penn State. A former walk-on who was put on scholarship ahead of the 2019 campaign, Vastardis started four games in 2020, be- fore a back injury held him out of the fi- nal two contests. He decided to return for his extra year of eligibility granted to all players after the COVID-impacted 2020 season. "He's been here for so long," McNamara said, discussing his long embrace with his center after the game. "His body has gone under some serious pain over the last five years, and this one means a lot for the guys who have been here." A two-time team captain, Vastardis rehabbed hard and got himself into peak shape, boosting his flexibility and mobility. It has paid off, with the 6-3, 294-pounder not missing any regular- season tilts and playing the third-most snaps on the offense. He's been durable and reliable, and perhaps Michigan's best offensive lineman, grading out on Pro Football Focus (PFF) as the team's high- est-rated starter up front (74.5). Beyond the high level he's playing at physically, Vastardis — who's been de- scribed as 'Gramps' due to his age and wisdom — sets the tone for the offensive line, on and off the field. They march to the beat of his drum. A former two-star recruit, center Andrew Vastardis was verbally committed to Old Dominion before deciding to walk on at Michigan just before Signing Day in 2016. He's become a reliable starter in his sixth season. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL