Michigan’s offensive line is starting to take shape, and the group has loftier goals than just winning jobs.
Jake Guarnera, the projected starting center, said he can see the Wolverines winning the Joe Moore Award this season. That’s the kind of confidence that comes when a unit believes it has real upside, not just bodies to fill spots. Guarnera, who became a dependable starter at guard last season, has moved to center and should hold that role for the best of Bryce Underwood’s career at Michigan.
Two spots already look settled. Guarnera has the center job, and Andrew Sprague appears locked in at right tackle. That leaves three openings, and Michigan’s fall camp work is offering some pretty strong hints about where things are headed.
One of the biggest clues came from Michigan’s own posts on X, along with highlights that have circulated from camp. Brice Marich of The Michigan Insider noted that Andrew Babalola was working at left tackle, while Evan Link - a two-year starter at tackle - had shifted inside to guard.
That doesn’t make the starting five a done deal, but it does point in a direction. Kyle Whittingham said last week at Big Ten Media Days that Babalola has first-round ability, and he added that he doesn’t see Babalola moving inside to guard.
Link opened the 2025 season at left tackle before an injury opened the door for Blake Frazier. Frazier handled the job well, and Michigan could certainly do a lot worse than him if he ends up starting there again. Still, the Wolverines are clearly trying to find their best five, and Jim Harding told the media earlier this week that the competition is still ongoing.
The sense here is that Babalola is getting first-team work for a reason, and that he may end up at left tackle before the season is over. If that happens, it could create another domino effect and send Frazier inside.
That kind of flexibility matters because Michigan has plenty of tackles. It’s a good problem, but it also means someone has to move inside if the staff wants the strongest five on the field.
Link already made that shift, and it’s easy to see why. He looked comfortable at tackle last season, but guard may be his best fit, and he could be an All-Big Ten guard there.
Frazier might be in the same conversation, too. He’ll be battling Brady Norton and Nathan Efobi for a starting job on the interior as Michigan keeps sorting out the lineup.
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