Michigan football star believes offensive line could win third straight Joe Moore award

A strong offensive line is arguably the most important part of having a good offense, especially if you run the ball as much as Jim Harbaugh does. While Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards are certainly elite talents, the Wolverines’ success in the run game is also in large part to the dominant offensive line blocking up front. Michigan football star offensive lineman Zak Zinter recently spoke about the team’s success and what the expectations are for next year’s offensive line.

Michigan football star Zak Zinter discusses winning the Joe Moore Award in back-to-back years

In 2021, the Wolverines posted a 12-2 record and marched into the College Football Playoff. Michigan football made the playoff again in 2022, this time posting a final record of 13-1. In both seasons, the Wolverines’ offensive success was in large part due to their dominant offensive line.

In both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Michigan football’s offensive line won the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football. Before this, no team had ever won the award in back-to-back seasons.

Playing on the offensive line in both 2021 and 2022 was right guard Zak Zinter. Recently, Zinter was featured on an episode of Those Who Stay from Michigan Athletics. Zinter discussed what it was like to win the Joe Moore Award in back-to-back seasons.

Going for the three-peat #GoBlue | @cheezit | @zak_zinter pic.twitter.com/DfZWfDrH9b

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) June 21, 2023

“The last two years the O-line has definitely left a legacy,” Zinter said. If winning two straight Joe Moore Awards wasn’t impressive enough, Zinter believes this offensive line can make it three. Zinter said, “I’m not sure they’ll let us win [the Joe Moore Award] three years in a row but it’s definitely a goal we’re gonna strive for as well.”

Zak Zinter returned to the Wolverines to win a national championship

Following the 2022 season, Zinter could have gone pro and declared for the NFL draft. Ultimately, Zinter decided to return for one last season. Zinter explained, “There’s a lot that went into my decision to return. It’s always been a goal and a dream of mine to play in the NFL, but when I sat down and talked to my friends, Blake [Corum], Trevor [Keegan], CJ [Cornelius Johnson], we all decided we want to come back and win this thing and do it together.”

Zinter continued, “I have so many goals here that I still haven’t accomplished and wanted to come back one more season to accomplish those goals.” Michigan football fell one game short of making the national championship in both 2021 and 2022, but Zinter believes this is the year for the Wolverines to finally win it all.

Zinter said, “We wanna beat Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State, win the Big Ten again, and we want to make that next step. Win a bowl game, win the national championship.” He concluded with, “This is the last year, I’m going to give it everything I have.”

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