The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531518
28 THE WOLVERINE ❱ FEBRUARY 2025 OFFENSIVE LINE BY CHRIS BALAS RETURNING STARTERS Graduate C Greg Crippen The center replaced Dom Giudice in the middle of the year, and the position seemed to improve somewhat, though he's had his ups and downs. Crippen will return for his fifth year hoping to take his game to another level after starting seven games in 2024. Graduate OG Giovanni El-Hadi El-Hadi earned honorable mention All- Big Ten honors after starting every game this season at right guard. He played in 11 games the year prior and hopes to make more improvement in 2025. Graduate OT Jeffrey Persi Persi is slated to return for a sixth year after starting two games in 2024 and is hoping for a bigger role in 2025. Junior OT Evan Link Link started 11 of the 13 games in which he appeared this season, all but one at right tackle. He struggled in pass pro- tection for much of the year, and some believe he'll move to guard next season. Sophomore OT Andrew Sprague Sprague only started one game — at right tackle in the ReliaQuest Bowl ver- sus Alabama — but he showed well and graded out higher than any other line- man per Pro Football Focus. He kept his redshirt and has four years of eli- gibility remaining. OTHER RETURNERS Senior OT Connor Jones Still waiting for his chance at the two-deep after three years in the program. He's been a scout team stalwart. Junior OT Brooks Bahr The Chicagoland lineman moved over from defensive line last year and hopes to compete for time in his third season. Junior OG Nathan Efobi The former four-star recruit out of Georgia is still working on breaking the two-deep on the interior line. Sophomore OT Blake Frazier A tackle prospect, Frazier had a good first year and is long and athletic enough to play either side, when he gains a bit more strength. Many believe he'll be a very good one, eventually. Sophomore C Jake Guarnera The guard prospect contributed on special teams in 2024 and hopes to earn more time as a sophomore. Sophomore OG Luke Hamilton The 6-5, 315-pounder is hoping to take another step in his development after not seeing the field in 2025. Sophomore OT Ben Roebuck The second-year lineman spent a year learning on the scout team in his first sea- son and will try to make a move toward playing time in the spring. NEWCOMERS Graduate OG Lawrence Hattar The Livonia, Mich., native was a first-team Division II All-American in 2024, according to the AFCA, and helped lead Ferris State (Mich.) to a DII national championship. He's On3's No. 474 player overall and No. 50 in- terior offensive lineman in the portal. Junior OT Brady Norton The Cal Poly transfer was On3's No. 192 player in the portal before signing with the Wolverines. He'll compete at tackle after starting at left tackle all 11 games in which he played during the 2024 regular season, posting a 73.5 overall PFF grade and 90.6 pass-blocking rat- ing (tops in the FCS). Freshman OT Andrew Babalola The No. 15 player overall in the On3 In- dustry Ranking, which weighs the four major recruiting services, Babalola could compete for a starting tackle job as a true freshman — the Overland (Kan.) native is that good. Freshman OG Avery Gach The Birmingham (Mich.) Groves stand- out was No. 277 overall in the On3 Indus- try Ranking and will come to Michigan as an offensive guard. Freshman C Kaden Strayhorn A center prospect out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, the three-star line- man is also the son of former Michigan State defensive standout Jason Strayhorn. ANALYSIS Of all the disappointments from the Michigan offense in 2025 — and there were plenty — the of- fensive line might have been the biggest. Head coach Sherrone Moore said the "smash" identity behind really good offensive line play would always be in place during his tenure, but Year 1 was an absolute struggle after the Wolverines had to replace several starters. Center Greg Crippen will have to improve a lot if he starts next season — ditto guard Giovanni El-Hadi and tackle Evan Link — and left tackle remains a mystery. Position coach Grant Newsome will get some help in 2025 from analyst Juan Castillo, who helped Jim Harbaugh in a similar role a few years ago, but this group will have a lot to prove. — Chris Balas PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL