Michigan’s offensive line is still in rough shape heading into Saturday’s Week 7 matchup with Penn State, and the availability report didn’t offer much comfort.
The Wolverines will be without both starters on the right side of the line. Tackle Andrew Sprague is out, as expected, with coach Kyle Whittingham saying it will be some time before he returns this season, if he returns at all. Guard Brady Norton is also out after spending the week listed as questionable.
That leaves Michigan shuffling again up front. In a practice clip the program posted on social media earlier this week, Avery Gach was working at right guard alongside Blake Frazier, who shifted about a month ago from the left side to the right to fill in for Sprague. Norton’s absence matters because he’s one of Michigan’s most flexible linemen, capable of playing both guard and tackle.
The line could get thinner still. Starting center Jake Guarnera, who has been the most steady piece in a disappointing group in Year 1 under coach Jim Harding, is listed as a game-time decision.
He met with the media on Tuesday, which usually points in a positive direction, but the game-time designation rather than “questionable” may suggest a setback. If Guarnera can’t play, Nebraska transfer Houston Ka'aha'aina-Torres would likely step in at center.
There is one piece of good news: left guard Nathan Efobi, who was listed as probable throughout the week, is off the report and good to go.
Michigan also has a notable absence at tight end. Zack Marshall, who was not on the report earlier in the week, is now listed as out. The timing stands out after the messages he sent in a private chat last week criticizing offensive coordinator Jason Beck were leaked.
“We have an extra OL on the field every play and run different versions of power read every play 🤡,” Marshall wrote. “Also Beck tells Bryce [Underwood] where to go on every play and it gets strapped. Bryce is a good qb, Beck is a problem.”
Marshall later apologized publicly, and Whittingham said he addressed the situation with the team. Still, his absence against Penn State is a significant development given everything that happened last week.
In Other News...
Michigans Quarterback Crisis Just Put A Freshman In A Massive Spot
Tommy Carr was already a name Michigan fans knew well before he ever took a college snap, but Week 7 could put the true freshman squarely in the middle of the spotlight. With the starting quarterback benched, Carr is expected to see significant snaps against Penn State, a daunting stage for any newcomer, especially one who is still early in his first season.
A Michigan native and four-star recruit, Carr flipped his commitment from Miami (OH) to the Wolverines and arrived with plenty of pedigree attached to his name. He is the grandson of former Michigan safety Tom Curtis and former head coach Lloyd Carr, both College Football Hall of Fame inductees, and now the program may need him sooner than planned as it tries to steady the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Reentered The Polls Conversation At A Brutal Time
Michigans win over Penn State was enough to get the Wolverines back into the conversation, even if not back into the rankings themselves. In the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, Michigan picked up 10 votes but remained on the outside looking in, a reminder that one solid result can at least reopen the door even when the season has already taken its share of bruises.
The timing, though, could hardly be more awkward. Ohio State surged to No. 2 after taking down Indiana, which slid to No. 6, while Miami stayed firmly at No. 1 at 6-0, leaving very little room for movement above Michigan. For the Wolverines, the Penn State win created momentum, but the path back into the poll still looks crowded and unforgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans First Big Ten Win Just Sparked A Quarterback Debate
Michigans first Big Ten win under coach Kyle Whittingham came with a clear shift at halftime, when Tommy Carr took over at quarterback and the offense settled into a more reliable rhythm. The Wolverines leaned on the ground game from there, outrushing Penn State by a wide margin while three different backs reached the end zone on the ground and the defense kept setting the table with takeaways.
Bryce Underwoods rough afternoon, highlighted by two interceptions before the switch, turned the spotlight right back onto Michigans quarterback situation even after the win. The defense finished with three turnovers, including two from Chris Bracy, and the Wolverines turned those short fields into 21 points, but the larger question now is whether the change at quarterback becomes more than just a game-day adjustment. [Read more 🡒]