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Now that left tackle Jalen Mayfield has returned to Michigan for the 2020 season, the Wolverines will field an offensive line that at least has some starting experience. Ryan Hayes would be the other U-M blocker with the most starts under his belt, but according to Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis the three other starts up front-- whoever they are-- will be more than up to the task. 

"He wants to be an elite talent," Gattis said of Mayfield on Wednesday. "He wants to be a first rounder. So, we feel really, really good about where we are now, as well as building depth, seeing guys like Chuck Filiaga step up, Karsen Barnhart, Trevor Keegan just to name a few. So, we feel very strong. Trente Jones has had a great camp. We feel very strong right now about the depth we have, obviously gaining Jalen back, but the pieces are starting to come together."

While it is likely that Mayfield and Hayes man the tackle positions after playing extensively at those spots in 2019, the three interior blocking roles are still up for grabs. Perhaps the biggest loss to this section of the line was Cesar Ruiz, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round this year, and replacing his contributions will be no simple task. However, Gattis feels that one player has already stepped up and separated himself as just the guy for the job. 

"First and foremost, a guy that I think has done an exceptional job leading our offensive line unit has been Andrew Vastardis," Gattis said. "He's a fifth-year player who started off as a walk-on, and I can't say enough great things about V because he's a guy who gets it going at the center position for us. Obviously, from a communication standpoint making sure everybody is on the same page, but then the other thing is his approach. He showed flashes at the end of games last year when we were able to get him in, obviously with a lead and versus Michigan State he got in for a few plays when Cesar went down, but being able to replace your center is always an important piece. We feel like we have a very important piece with Andrew Vastardis right there at our centerpiece."

Gattis also acknowledged that Zach Carpenter and Reese Atteberry are also on the depth chart and performing well in camp, but they were mentioned in more of a supplementary fashion, one that indicated they are not truly challenging for the starting spot at the moment. 

As alluded to earlier, Hayes is going to be one of the lineman that will factor into the starting equation one way or another after a strong showing last season. 

"But specifically speaking about the other pieces on the offensive line, you've got a guy like Ryan Hayes who has started games, played in another of different games for us," Gattis said. "Andrew Stueber, another veteran presence who has been here, these guys are going in their third and fourth years in the program. So, they are not your typical freshman or first-year players that you're looking to replace a lot of your offensive line with."

And while it is also a positive development that each of these individual lineman is performing well in fall camp by Gattis' measure, an offensive line is only as effective as its weakest link. So, if a team field four blockers that work together well with one exception that acts as a turnstile up front, that unit will not look good overall. 

So far, does not look like the case at Michigan.

"You see the chemistry, the comaraderie really show itself, and that's the key piece whenever you're replacing a whole line," Gattis said. "It's not about how one individual can play. It's about how all five can play together, and so that's the biggest thing that we've been trying to create is an atmosphere where they're playing closely together and being able to be on the same page."

How do you think the starting offensive line will look for Michigan during Week 1? Do you see a breakout player listed among those that Gattis highlighted? Let us know!