Michigan didn’t waste any time making Jason Beck’s “Rhino” idea part of the offense.
In the season opener against Western Michigan, offensive lineman Manuel Beigel was on the field for 26 of Michigan’s 51 offensive snaps as the Rhino, a sign that this is far more than a situational wrinkle for short-yardage snaps. Beck brought the role with him to Ann Arbor, and the Wolverines used it right away.
The concept itself traces back to Beck’s time at Virginia, though the name didn’t stick until later at Syracuse. Chris Elmore, a multi-purpose piece who lined up at fullback, tight end, offensive line and defensive line, was called “Rhino,” and Beck eventually applied that nickname to the role.
At its core, the setup is straightforward. Michigan puts a sixth offensive lineman on the field as a jumbo tight end, adding another blocker while still keeping the possibility of throwing the ball. Beck had success with it at previous stops, then brought it to Utah last season, where Kyle Whittingham and offensive line coach Jim Harding helped make it a bigger part of the offense.
Utah’s primary Rhino in 2025 was Solatoa Moea’i, who logged 328 snaps as an in-line tight end, according to Pro Football Focus. Beck has said Utah used six offensive linemen roughly 400 to 500 times last season. The Utes finished 11-2 and averaged more than 41 points and 482 yards per game.
Michigan’s first look at the role came with Beigel, a 6-foot-5, 307-pound junior who has spent most of his career on the defensive line. Against Western Michigan, he essentially functioned as a sixth starter up front.
The results were uneven. On one Wildcat long-trap play with Jordan Marshall taking the direct snap, Beigel lined up as the extra lineman and Michigan had favorable numbers to run the ball.
But a defensive end beat Beigel’s attempt to climb to the second level, which let the linebacker Beigel was responsible for free up the lane. Marshall picked up just one yard.
That play fit the broader story of the night. Michigan managed only 108 rushing yards, and the offensive line had trouble creating consistent space.
Even so, the usage itself may matter more than the production in Week 1. Beck did not treat the Rhino as a one-play answer for obvious run situations. Michigan used it as a normal part of the offense, just as Beck, Whittingham and Harding did at Utah.
That’s the point of the whole thing: flexibility. If Beigel becomes dependable in the run game and in pass protection, Michigan can keep six offensive linemen on the field without giving away the call.
There’s clearly still work to do, and Whittingham said in his press conference earlier this week that the Wolverines may have “missed the mark” with its usage over the weekend. But Beigel playing more than half of Michigan’s offensive snaps in his first game in the role says plenty about how much Beck trusts the concept.
Now the Wolverines have to make it function quickly, with Oklahoma coming to Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon.
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