FOOTBALL

New Michigan football transfer commit in heated position battle

This new Michigan football transfer commit is already in a heated battle for a starting role with the Wolverines.

Published

10 months ago

July 27, 2023

Michigan football, transfer portal, Drake Nugent

Oct 2, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal center Drake Nugent (60) before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

INDIANAPOLIS, IN. — According to head coach Jim Harbaugh, a new Michigan football transfer commit — Drake Nugent — is currently in the midst of a position battle for the starting center role against another standout lineman. Many Wolverines are expected to step up into a much larger role this fall, with Nugent already being seen as one of the Big Ten’s top players. That said, Harbaugh says that it is currently a two-man race for the starting job in the middle of Michigan’s elite offensive line.

New Michigan football transfer portal addition battling for starting role at center

Over the 2023 offseason, Michigan football added a valuable new transfer portal addition — former Stanford Cardinal center Drake Nugent. Nugent stood out as one of the PAC-12’s best in years past, even earning team captain honors at his last school.

Heading into the new season, Nugent knows that expectations are higher than ever for his new team and is ready for the challenge of Big Ten Play. That said, Jim Harbaugh believes in no free lunches, meaning regardless of Nugent’s preseason first-team All-Big Ten status, he must earn the starting role.

“I think you have two starting centers. You have Drake (Nugent), and you have (Greg) Crippen — Crippen and Drake,” Jim Harbaugh said on Thursday at Big Ten Media Day. “Both are we think starting caliber. We think they’re both All-Big Ten caliber, possibly even All-American caliber. There’s an example of who’s going to start? We’re going to start the best player. How will you know who the best player is? They play the best.”

Right now, Michigan football has a very good problem on its hands — the Wolverines have so many starting-caliber players that one incredible player will have to sit in favor of the starter. This appears to be the case across the entire offensive line, perhaps most notably with new Michigan football transfer commit Drake Nugent, who is gunning for the starting role and could lead the Wolverines’ offensive line to a third-straight Joe Moore Award, which would be a new NCAA record.

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CJ has covered college athletics in paid roles for around five years, including numerous sports and beats. His most recent work revolves largely around Penn State and Michigan football and basketball as a member of the credentialed media at both schools. Right now, CJ writes for Blue by Ninety, where he also serves as the site's credentialed football reporter. He also does some credentialed basketball coverage. Previously, CJ has made stops with sites like GBMWolverine, Saturday Blitz, Steeler Nation, and more.