The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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O F F E N S I V E L I N E M E N THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 77 Some wondered how Michigan could win nine football games last season, given the chaos unveiled shortly after the regular season ended. But they did, and with the decks clear going forward, many are seeing a brighter future for the Wolverines, starting up front on the offensive line. Following the spring game, Whittingham reiterated his stance on Harding and his confidence in the coach's ability to turn out an up- graded product. "I think the O-line is going to be fine once all's said and done," Whit- tingham claimed. "Jim Harding is a proven commodity as an offensive line coach. He's been with me for over a decade and has produced a solid offensive line every single year. I don't think this year is going to be any different. "We had two or three guys that were very limited or out this spring that are going to be very prominent in the fall, pushing for starting jobs. "I don't have a big concern about it, because I know Jim Harding's track record, I know the talent level of the players that we've got there and the guys that are going to be joining us coming off injury. I think we're going to be solid once we get into the season." Whittingham also served up praise for offensive coordinator Jason Beck, whom he noted has a knack for playing to the strengths of his personnel. "Jason Beck is also very adept at, if you have weaknesses, covering them up and doing things that they can take the focus off of that," Whittingham said. "Between those two guys and their ability to teach and scheme, I think we're going to be just fine." Junior Blake Frazier — expected to serve as Michigan's starting left tackle come fall — shared in the feeling that the Wolverines are defi- nitely headed in the right direction up front, led by Harding. "I love him," Frazier said of the new boss. "He's somebody who is very adaptive. He works with me, [Andrew] Sprague, Jake [Guarnera]. He gives us all different tools to work with, because we all play a little bit differently. He's been unbelievable in coming in and introducing the new scheme to us. We keep a lot of our on-field calls the same, just to ease the transition. I'm super excited to keep working with him. His track record speaks for itself. "We were lucky enough to keep more of our guys than we lost. Of the units on the team, we kept most of us together. Towards the end of the season, especially, we were starting to become a family. "The fact that we kept as many guys as we did really helped us. The Joe Moore [Award, for the nation's best offensive line] is the goal. You come to Michigan as an offensive lineman, that's what you're aiming for. We're in a really good spot right now, and I'm excited to see how we keep developing." — John Borton No Lack Of Optimism POSITION COACH Jim Harding is in his first season at Michigan, serving as assistant head coach and of- fensive line coach. He's spent the last 17 years as an offen- sive line coach, including 12 at Utah from 2014-15. Harding has sent 15 offensive linemen to the NFL, including eight draft picks, highlighted by first-rounders in Garrett Bolles (No. 20 to the Denver Broncos) in 2017 and Spencer Fano (No. 9 to the Cleveland Browns) and Caleb Lomu (No. 28 to the New England Patriots) in 2026. In 2025, Utah led the nation with 6 yards per rush attempt and was 11th with only 14 sacks allowed, with Harding's position group being named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. Under his direction, 11 players achieved first- team All-Pac 12 or All-Big 12 honors, including Fano as the 2025 Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. Fano became the Utes' first Outland Trophy winner in 2025 and earned consensus first-team All-America honors after picking up second-team recognition in 2024. Harding's offensive lines blocked for a 1,000- yard rusher in eight of 12 seasons during his time in Salt Lake City, including a stretch of six straight seasons with a 1,000-yard rusher (2014-19). Prior to working for head coach Kyle Whit- tingham at Utah, Harding was the offensive line coach at Wyoming from 2009-13. He be- gan coaching in college at Missouri as a gradu- Junior Jake Guarnera started 11 games at right guard last year but will shift over and anchor the line at center this season. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten from coaches and media in 2025. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL