The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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32 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2018 PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW. OFFENSIVE LINE BY THE NUMBERS 4.37 M i c h i g a n's a v e r - age yards per rush in 2017, tied for fourth best in the Big Ten. 26 R u s h i n g t o u c h - downs by the Wol- verines in 2017, the lowest season total for a Michigan team in three years under Jim Harbaugh. 36 Sacks allowed by the 2017 U-M offen- sive line, for an aver- age of 2.77 per game, tied for 110th in the nation. 49th M i c h i g a n's r u s h - ing rank nationally in 2017, with an aver- age of 177.7 yards per game on the ground. 91st The Wolverines' na- tional rank in tackles for loss allowed in 2017, with an average of 6.38 surrendered per game. WHO'S GONE MASON COLE The versatile four-year starter served as captain in 2017 and earned second-team All-Big Ten notice, concluding a career featuring a Michigan-record 51 consecutive starts by an offensive lineman. PAT KUGLER Last year's center will still be in Schembechler Hall as a grad assistant, after making 13 starts and earning All-Big Ten honorable mention as a fifth-year senior. WHO'S BACK JUNIOR BEN BREDESON He will be a third-year starter, after earning second- team All-Big Ten notice by coaches and media last season. JUNIOR MICHAEL ONWENU The 6-3, 350-pounder started eight games at right guard and one game at left guard in 2017, and earned the team's Offensive Lineman of the Game honors for his effort at Purdue. SOPHOMORE CESAR RUIZ Ruiz started five games up front as a true freshman, and projects as either Michigan's starting center or at a guard position in 2018. FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR JUWANN BUSHELL-BEATTY This three-year letterman earned Offensive Lineman of the Game for his effort against Maryland in 2017 and will look to nail down a starting tackle spot. TOP NEWCOMERS REDSHIRT FRESHMAN JAMES HUDSON The 6-5, 302-pounder switched from defensive to offensive line during the 2017 season, and he's an up-and-coming offensive tackle at a position of great need. REDSHIRT FRESHMAN CHUCK FILIAGA A space eater at 6-6, 345, and after a year of groom- ing, he could be ready to step up and challenge on the offensive line REDSHIRT FRESHMAN ANDREW STUEBER Stueber possesses great length and size at 6-7, 314, and he'll also be battling to earn a breakthrough in 2018. Ben Bredeson, Jr. — 20 starts, 25 games played. Michael Onwenu, Jr. — Nine starts, 20 games played. Cesar Ruiz, Soph. — Five starts, 13 games played. Juwann Bushell-Beatty, 5th-Sr. — Eight starts, 25 games played. Jon Runyan R-Jr. — One start, 10 games played. Grant Newsome, R-Jr. — Six starts, 10 games played. Stephen Spanellis, R-Soph. — No starts, 13 games played. Nolan Ulizio, R-Jr. — Five starts, 13 games played. "If Cesar Ruiz can take that center position, he'll be there for the next three years, and you can start to build and acquire talent at other positions, knowing that's locked up. You've got a guy who can get everybody going in the right direction, reliably get the ball to the quarterback, whether it's an under-center snap or a shotgun snap. I really believe he's going to be good at that position." — U-M All-American Jon Jansen E X PE R I E NCE QUOTABLE POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Who takes over for Mason Cole, at the all-important left tackle position? That's a job which will be closely moni- tored throughout spring practice and maybe beyond. Can a veteran like redshirt junior Grant Newsome complete a come- back from a devastating knee in- jury in 2016 and claim a job some thought would be his for four years? Will fifth-year senior Juwann Bushell- Beatty move into the job or a veteran starter like Ben Bredeson kick out to tackle? The Wolverines also feature some redshirt freshmen like James Hud- son who will make a strong push to become a multi-year starter, begin- ning this fall. There are more ques- tions than answers here, going into spring ball. BY JOHN BORTON CESAR RUIZ