Jim Harbaugh Talks Offensive Line Battle Saying 10 Of Them Are 'Starter Caliber'

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michigan has won the Joe Moore Award two straight years for having the nation's best offensive line. The Wolverines lost two starters from a season ago: Ryan Hayes and Olu Oluwatimi.

But Michigan went out and landed three starters from the transfer portal: LaDarius Henderson, Myles Hinton, and Drake Nugent. With the return of Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan, and Karsen Barnhart -- Michigan has a chance to win the award for the third consecutive year.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Nugent would slide into the starting center role and Henderson would likely take over at left tackle. But according to coach Jim Harbaugh, it's a battle.

"..Offensive line, I look at 10 guys right now that are starter caliber," Harbaugh told the crowd at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis.

Nugent played four years with Stanford and earned 24 starts at center. He was one of the best run-blocking centers in all of football last year. The Stanford transfer’s 84.1 run-blocking grade ranked third among all centers in the country this past season.

But the Michigan coach still sees it as a two-person battle entering fall camp. Greg Crippen, the 2021 recruit, is the other center battling it out with Nugent. Harbaugh believes both aren't only starter caliber, but they both have All-American potential.

“I think you have two starting centers,” Harbaugh said. “You have Drake and you have Crippen. Crippen and Drake. Both are, we think, starting caliber. We even think they’re both All-Big Ten caliber, possibly even All-American caliber. “There’s an example of, who’s gonna start? We’re gonna start the best player. How are we going to know who the best player is? They play the best.”

Harbaugh shifted talks to the tackle position. He mentioned Karsen Barnhart and Trente Jones are battling for the right tackle spot, and Myles Hinton and LaDarius Henderson will fight for the left tackle spot.

“I see that at tackle too. Barnhart, Trente, Myles Hinton and LaDarius: There’s four starting tackles,” Harbaugh said. “You know a starting tackle when you see one. And that’s also going to play out.”

Kris Jenkins breakout player:

The Michigan defensive tackle was asked on Thursday who his breakout player was for the 2023 season. Jenkins mentioned a few players, but he really said he could name a ton -- since they have all been impressive. But Jenkins ultimately mentioned Nugent and the Indiana tight end transfer, AJ Barner.

“I could go down the list, but I’ll give you a guy that I think has been under the radar a little bit – I’ll give you two," said Jenkins. "On offense, I think Drake Nugent and AJ Barner. I think they will be a great combination. The second they got here they have been nothing but hard workers and dedicated to their crafts. They are leaders, leading by example, so they are definitely going to do something special.

Michigan opens fall camp on Aug 2 and begins its season on Sept 2 against East Carolina.