The Wolverines’ offensive line is one of the best in the nation, having claimed Joe Moore Awards in both of the past two seasons. This year, the O-line for the Maize and Blue looks better than ever, as it will be led by new Michigan football transfer addition Drake Nugent. Nugent, a former center for the Stanford Cardinal, joins Ann Arbor as one of the Wolverines’ top new additions and is ranked as the No. 2 Big Ten offensive transfer pickup.
New Michigan football transfer addition ranked top 2 in the Big Ten
Drake Nugent is a significant acquisition for Michigan football. The offensive line serves as the foundation of the Wolverines’ program and has played a crucial role in their two consecutive Big Ten Championship Game victories and College Football Playoff appearances.
“I ran a lot of outside-zone at Stanford, and I felt really comfortable in that scheme,” Nugent told MLive in an interview. “But I think the fact that (Michigan) can run inside-zone and make it look so many different ways. A lot of it reminded me of how the 49ers draw up offense. It’s just pretty to watch.”
A big year for Drake Nugent and the Michigan Wolverines
According to the latest rankings from Saturday Tradition, Drake Nugent is considered one of the best additions from the transfer portal in the entire Big Ten. In fact, among offensive players, Nugent is ranked as the second-best addition in the Big Ten, with Dante Cephas (wide receiver, Penn State) being the only player ahead of him.
“I’ve been watching Big Ten tape and Michigan the past couple of years on TV,” Nugent continued. “When we played our night games at Stanford, I’m watching ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ every Saturday while I’m waiting in the hotel. I got a sense of the style of that team’s play, and it was something that I wanted to be a part of.”
Nugent will be stepping in to replace Olu Oluwatimi, who holds the distinction of being the most decorated offensive lineman in Michigan football program history. With several new faces on the sidelines in Ann Arbor, this year’s Wolverines must come together and strive for a third consecutive national title run.
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