The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/917835
JANUARY 2018 THE WOLVERINE 27 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN Offensive Line MVP SENIOR LEFT TACKLE MASON COLE Cole enjoyed a solid se- nior season at left tackle and was especially good on the perimeter, earn- ing All-Big Ten second- team laurels from the coaches, media and Associated Press. He was at his best at center last year, though, and could have earned more accolades there had he not been forced to take one for the team. He was beaten on the edge a few times in a blowout loss to Penn State, but he was the most consistent of a group that struggled in allow- ing eight sacks against the Nittany Lions. The co-captain tied a Michigan offensive lineman record with his 50th career start up front when U-M played Ohio State, join- ing Jon Jansen as the co-leader for the most starts at the position in a career. Cole can tie former defensive lineman Craig Roh's overall school record of 51 in the bowl game. He's been the consummate team- mate. Unsung Hero FRESHMAN RIGHT GUARD CESAR RUIZ Plenty of buzz surrounded the dynamic freshman in the spring (he was an early enrollee) and fall camp, with some even expecting him to win the starting center job. Fifth-year senior Pat Kugler earned that rule, though, and Ruiz's only offensive playing time through the first eight games of the season came in a jumbo tight end/extra offen- sive lineman role. The rookie made his first career start at right guard Nov. 4 against Minnesota in place of in- jured sophomore Michael Onwenu and held onto the spot for the rest of the season. He is almost certain to take over the starting center role for Kugler next season. Regular-Season Grade Michigan might have found a bud- ding star in Ruiz, who started the last four games, but this group was an unsettled, inconsistent bunch for much of the year. Redshirt sophomore Nolan Ulizio started the first five games at right tackle but had to be replaced midway through the Michigan State game. Redshirt junior Juwann Bush- ell-Beatty took over, but struggled at times. Onwenu improved each week in his eight starts at right guard before going down with injury, and sopho- more left guard Ben Bredeson can be better but still earned unanimous second-team All-Big Ten honors. This group, though, allowed 34 sacks to rank 113th nationally, and the running game struggled in the four losses, managing only 2.36 yards per carry. The offensive line needs to improve next season. status Of schOLarship pLayers GRADUATED: LT Mason Cole C Pat Kugler ELIGIBILITY REMAINING (YEARS): OG Ben Bredeson (2) OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty (1) OT Chuck Filiaga (4) OT Ja'Raymond Hall (4) OT Joel Honigford (4) OT James Hudson (4) OT Grant Newsome (2) OG Michael Onwenu (2) G/C Cesar Ruiz (3) OG Jon Runyan Jr. (2) OT Stephen Spanellis (3) OT Andrew Stueber (3) OT Nolan Ulizio (2) D+ NUMBERS TO KNOW 1 Career start for the right side of Michigan's offensive line coming into the year. Sophomore Michael Onwenu and freshman Cesar Ruiz shared duties at right guard this season, while redshirt sophomore Nolan Ulizio and red- shirt junior Juwann Bushell-Beatty split time at right tackle. Bushell- Beatty was the only player of the bunch who had ever started a game (2016 at Rutgers) before this fall. 3rd Best rushing offense (186.3 yards per game) for Michigan in the Big Ten this sea- son, which ranked 43rd nationally. The Wolverines also averaged 4.5 yards per carry, which was fourth highest in the league. 84.1 Was senior Mason Cole's season-long grade (out of 100), per Pro Football Focus (PFF). It earned him second- team all-conference laurels from the outlet and was the eighth-best mark posted by the league's block- ers. Only two Wolverines earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from PFF on offense, junior running back Karan Higdon was the other. Head coach Jim Harbaugh "[Freshman] Cesar [Ruiz] has been good right from the be- ginning — he's probably been even more than that. He has played center, left guard, right guard and right tackle, and he brings very good versatility and a desire to play." Mason Cole