Michigan football: 2023 O-Line could be most experienced ever

After becoming the first school ever to win the Joe Moore Award in back-to-back seasons, Michigan football has tightened its grip on its claim to “O-line U.” Following the 2022 season, the Wolverines lost vital pieces, including multi-year starting left tackle Ryan Hayes (40 games played, 29 starts, two-time All-Big Ten selection) and arguably the greatest center in school history, Olu Oluwatimi- who became the first ever Outland Trophy award winner in school history (best interior lineman), to go along with just the third Wolverine to win the Rimington Trophy (best center). After losses like those, it’s only natural that question marks began to arise on how the unit would look in 2023.

Michigan then received big news when starting guard duo Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan elected to return to school for another go around. Still, there were still big holes left at the two most important positions along the offensive line: center and left tackle. So Jim Harbaugh looked to the transfer portal and found excellent results when they pulled in three seniors (two 5th-year) with plenty of playing time under their belts. This adds together to become what might be the most experienced offensive line group in school history.

2023 outlook

While who precisely the starting five will end up being is still a mystery, one can most likely pencil in the interior three. Still, who will line up at the tackle positions is yet to be determined. No matter who offensive line coach and newly named sole offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore chooses to trot out for week 1 against the East Carolina Pirates, they have plenty of experience and talent to pick from.

Overall, has seven seniors (five 5th-year) with the best shots at starting have a combined 144 games started under their belts. This is an eye-popping number, and without doing much research, has to easily be the most of any returning offensive line in the Big Ten in 2023 (possibly even the country). Along with that, it is more than likely the most combined starts by a unit in Michigan football history. The group has played plenty of snaps and at a very high level as they combine for seven all-conference nods.

Zak Zinter (Sr.):

• 31 games started (33 games played)
• Two time All-Big-Ten (1st team coaches and 2nd team media in 2022, honorable mention in 2021)

LaDarius Henderson (5th-year):

• 29 starts (19 left guard, 10 left tackle, 33 games played)
• Team captain at Arizona State in 2022
• Credited with just 2 sacks allowed on 619 pass attempts (per PFF)

Drake Nugent (5th-year):

• 24 starts (27 games played)
• Two time All-Pac-12 honorable mention (coaches in both 2021-22)

Trevor Keegan (5th-year):

• 23 starts (30 games played)
• Two time All-Big-Ten honors (1st team coaches, 2nd team media in 2022, honorable mention in 2021)

Myles Hinton (Sr.):

• 16 starts (23 games played)
• Starter across three seasons at Stanford

Karsen Barnhart (5th-year):

• 15 starts (26 games played)
• Honorable mention All-Big-Ten in 2022
• Voted most improved offensive player by team in 2022

Trente Jones (5th-year):

• Six starts (26 games played)
• Three-time Academic All-Big-Ten (2020-22)

Altogether, Michigan football boasts a group that has 222 football games played and 144 starts across 33 combined seasons. Safe to say these guys know football.

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