The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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28 THE WOLVERINE ❱ APRIL 2026 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE RETURNING STARTERS Senior Evan Link Over the past two seasons, the 6-foot- 6, 324-pounder started 18 games — 10 at right tackle, eight at left tackle. He dealt with an injury after seven starts last sea- son and saw Blake Frazier take over the starting job. With his positional versatil- ity, Link is expected to compete at guard leading into the 2026 campaign. Junior Blake Frazier Frazier appeared in all 13 games with eight starts, including six at left tackle, in 2025, after dealing with injuries at the beginning of his career. He's expected to compete for a starting tackle job. Junior Jake Guarnera With a score of 71.4 from Pro Football Focus, Guarnera was the highest-graded U-M offensive lineman in 2025, and he didn't even begin the season as a starter. He took over at right guard early in the year due to injuries and started the final 10 contests, earning honorable mention All- Big Ten honors. Moving forward, however, Guarnera is a fit at center. Junior Andrew Sprague Sprague earned his first career start at right tackle in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama to cap off the 2024 campaign and then started 12 games at the posi- tion in 2025. He also was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection from both coaches and media. OTHER RETURNEES Graduate Lawrence Hattar The Ferris State transfer is entering his second season with the Wolverines, able to provide depth after logging 19 offensive snaps in two contests last year. Senior Brooks Bahr The former defensive lineman tran- sitioned to offense ahead of the 2024 season but has appeared in only one game during his career, last year's blowout against Central Michigan. Senior Nathan Efobi The 6-3, 312-pounder started five games last season, four at left guard and one at right guard. He looks to be a com- petitor for a starting job again in 2026. Senior Brady Norton The Cal Poly transfer impressed by win- ning the starting right guard job out of the gate last season, but an injury and strong play by Jake Guarnera sidelined him much of the rest of the way. He opened three contests, including against Texas in the Citrus Bowl, and will compete for time across the line, possessing the ability to play any of the five spots. Junior Luke Hamilton Played in just one game last season, af- ter redshirting in 2024. Hamilton is hop- ing to make a move on the depth chart at guard. Sophomore Andrew Babalola Suffered a torn ACL in August 2025, just when he was competing for the starting left tackle job. Lauded as one of the smart- est players on the team even at a young age, Babalola, a former five-star recruit, will likely have a role in 2026 — whether that's as a starter or an extra lineman. Sophomore Avery Gach Played in five games — including one on offense — and preserved his redshirt in 2025. He saw time on special teams at the end of the season, a good sign toward his development. NEWCOMERS Sophomore Houston Ka'aha'aina- Torres The Nebraska transfer spent last season making strides in the weight room. He was recruited by position coach Jim Hard- ing and Co. as a recruit out of Hawai'i and projects as a center. Freshman Tommy Fraumann The Wilmette, Ill., native flipped from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan in November and is a prospect at tackle. At 6-8, 265, Fraumann will have to add some weight in his first year in Ann Arbor. Freshman Ace Hamilton The three-star recruit was regarded as the No. 34 center in his class, but he's viewed as someone better than his rank- ing, and it's important to note centers don't get valued very highly. Freshman Malakai Lee The No. 55 overall prospect nation- ally per Rivals chose the Wolverines over Alabama and, at 6-7 and 350 pounds, is a massive individual out of Hawai'i with an exciting future at tackle. Freshman Marky Walbridge A 6-6, 285-pound tackle out of Ha- nover, Mass., Walbridge was a four-star recruit and the nation's No. 231 overall prospect according to Rivals. OFFENSIVE LINE ANALYSIS Michigan ranked No. 21 nationally with a 70.6 PFF run-blocking rating, but was 71st in pass protection (67.4), which didn't help out first-year quarterback Bryce Under- wood, who had an up-and-down season. The Wolverines allowed Underwood to be pressured on 31.8 percent of drop-backs, a big issue throughout the year. Michigan's offensive line dealt with plenty of injuries, beginning with Babalola going down in preseason camp, and had to play a lot of young players. The Wolverines found their best five with three then-soph- omores with redshirt freshman eligibility in the lineup — Frazier at left tackle, Guarnera at right guard and Sprague at right tackle. All three should be starters next season (though there will be some competition, too), and the three emerged as leaders, as well — especially Guarnera. Michigan went through some growing pains, but 2025 may have helped build the foundation for the group in years to come. Junior Andrew Sprague started 12 games at right tackle and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection from both the coaches and media in 2025. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL