Playing left tackle is one of the crown-jewel assignments in college football, and Michigan has enough flexibility up front to at least consider a shake-up. Andrew Sprague has been viewed as the Wolverines’ right tackle, but there’s a real case for sliding him to the left side this season.
Sprague has spent his Michigan career at right tackle, and he closed last year as the team’s highest-graded lineman according to Pro Football Focus. He was also one of just five Big Ten tackles to earn the top grades in both run blocking and pass protection, which helped land him among PFF’s top returning tackles in the country.
With Jim Harding now coaching the group, Sprague’s ceiling looks even higher. A move to left tackle could be the kind of change that helps him make another jump and strengthen his case as a first-round NFL prospect.
Harding has seen a version of this before at Utah, where he had two tackles handle both edges of the line before both eventually became first-night draft picks. Michigan could follow a similar path by putting Sprague on the left side and easing Andrew Babalola into the right tackle spot. If Sprague heads to the NFL after the season, Babalola would then be positioned to take over next year.
Sprague may already be Michigan’s best lineman, so there’s a natural argument for letting him protect Bryce Underwood’s blindside. And with camp over, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the staff has already tested the idea. Neither Babalola nor Blake Frazier has fully locked down the job in camp, which leaves the door open for Sprague to factor into the mix in a way that could help both him and the Wolverines.
In Other News...
Michigan Commit Is Already Sounding Like A Future Class Leader
Lundon Hampton is wasting no time looking like more than just a name in Michigans 2027 class. The running back, who is already committed to the Wolverines, opened the season by scoring two touchdowns for Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills and continues to stay in close contact with Michigan coaches and fellow commits as he gets ready for the next step in his development.
Hamptons mindset is one of the reasons he stands out in the class early on. He has talked about improving himself while helping a team chase bigger goals, and he is already preparing to enroll early at Michigan. For a program that values future leaders as much as future playmakers, Hamptons approach suggests he may be building toward exactly that kind of role. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Whittingham Era Starts With One Massive Pressure Point
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The questions are less about whether the pieces are there than about how fast they can mesh under a new staff. Quarterback Bryce Underwood is being viewed as a possible breakout name, while Jordan Marshall has the look of a back who could help define the offense if he takes the expected step forward. Add in the potential lift from Savion Hiter and the presence of Jay Hill coordinating the defense, and there is no shortage of reasons to think Michigan can contend. Still, the opening stretch of the season will tell a lot, and the margin for settling in may be slimmer than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Former Michigan Players Suddenly Face Tough NFL Roster Decisions
A wave of roster cuts around the NFL has put several former Michigan Wolverines on the move, with teams trimming down to 53 players before the regular season. Among the players released or waived are Stueber, Ryan Hayes, Donovan Edwards, Haskins, Mazi Smith, Myles Hinton, Thomas and Greg Crippen, a reminder of how quickly the margin tightens once preseason ends and front offices start sorting out the last spots.
For some of those ex-Wolverines, the next stop could be injured reserve or a practice squad opportunity if they clear waivers, which keeps the door open even after an initial setback. It is still an uneasy stretch, though, because these decisions can change the course of a young players first real NFL opportunity just as camp has ended and the league turns the page to Week 1. [Read more 🡒]