The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1444545
FEBRUARY 2022 THE WOLVERINE 31 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE DEPARTURES Andrew Vastardis He ran out of eligibility after six sea- sons, the last two of which he was a team captain and key piece at center. His 75.9 overall Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade led the team's offensive linemen. Andrew Stueber The right tackle accepted a Senior Bowl invite after five seasons in Ann Arbor, leaving one year of eligibility on the table. He started 22 career games and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches in 2021. Chuck Filiaga The 6-6, 337-pounder started nine career contests at guard, includ- ing three this season while filling in for injured players, but transferred to Min- nesota for his final year. RETURNERS Redshirt junior Ryan Hayes The left tackle has started 18 games during his career and is set to return for a fifth season after being named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2021. Redshirt sophomore Karsen Barnhart The versatile piece saw time at both tackle and guard this past season, earn- ing two starting assignments in 2021 after beginning four games in 2020. Redshirt sophomore Trente Jones He played the role of extra offensive lineman in 2021, but is expected to bat- tle for the starting right tackle job. Redshirt sophomore Trevor Keegan The 2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention honoree battled a midseason shoulder injury but opened 11 outings for the Wolverines at left guard. Sophomore Reece Atteberry He's appeared in seven games during his career, including six last season. He will compete at guard and center. Sophomore Zak Zinter The second-team All-Big Ten right guard (media) started 12 games in 2021 and four as a true freshman in 2020. Sophomore Greg Crippen He was the backup to Vastardis during his freshman year last season, playing in six contests and burning his redshirt. Redshirt freshman Jeffrey Persi He did not see action in 2020, before playing in two games at left tackle last season. Redshirt freshman Raheem Anderson The former four-star recruit played in one contest at center in 2021. Redshirt freshman Tristan Bounds He saw action at tackle in one tilt this past season. Redshirt freshman Giovanni El-Hadi The former top-100 re- cruit per the On3 Consen- sus played in one game at left guard last season. NEWCOMERS Redshirt junior Olu Oluwatimi The Virginia transfer chose Mich- igan in late December and has one year of eligibility remaining. He was one of three finalists for the Rimington Award, which is presented to the nation's top center. Freshman Andrew Gentry The former unan- imous top-150 2020 recruit took a two- year mission trip and decided to back off his pledge to Virginia and instead choose the Wolverines. Freshman Connor Jones The 6-7, 285-pounder was viewed as the No. 53 tackle and third-best player in the class of Colorado in 2022, per On3.com. Freshman Alessandro Lorenzetti The 6-6, 285-pound tackle helped pave the way for The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Conn., to go 9-1 as a senior. 2022 LOOK AHEAD OFFENSIVE LINE 2022 ANALYSIS The group won the Joe Moore Award for the nation's top offensive line last season, and is expected to be as good or better next season. Barnhart and Jones have some experience and will battle for the right tackle job, while Oluwatimi is potentially an upgrade at center, after grading out as the third-best run blocker in the country at his position last season, per PFF. Still, it's going to be hard to recreate the chemistry position coach Sherrone Moore's frontline had, and the departures of Vastardis and Stueber can't be taken lightly. The former was a two-time team captain and the leader of the men in the trenches, while the latter was the fourth-best pass-blocking tackle in the Big Ten, according to PFF. PHOTO COURTESY UM ATHLETICS