The Michigan Wolverines are firmly out of the spring ball phase of building and into an evaluation period and summer workouts. Head coach Sherrone Moore got to see what his first team in Ann Arbor could look like, and now a foundation is set ahead of fall camp.
Michigan’s offensive identity is still to be determined, but the offensive line is going to be at the forefront of the efforts. When you have a head coach who lives his life by a “SMASH” mentality, the guys in the trenches are going to play a huge part.
With that in mind, here are thoughts on each scholarship wide receiver entering the summer and where they might factor into the short and long-term vision of the program.
Graduate Myles Hinton
Myles Hinton should be considered a starter entering fall camp and he is going to be given every opportunity to start well into the season. Michigan thinks he has first round talent if he can put everything together, and when you see him on the field at 6-7, 340 pounds, it is hard not to wonder what it could look like if everything comes together. Last season, Hinton was battling injuries and inconsistent play which led to a demotion after the first four games. When Zak Zinter was injured and Karsen Barnhart had to kick inside, it was Trente Jones who came in at the other tackle spot, not Hinton.
Hinton came to spring ball healthy and trimmed up a bit, and by all accounts performed well. The challenge is getting him to play as his physique and highlights would suggest he can consistently. On one hand, you trust in the staff’s ability to develop talent and find the best five. On the other, this is his fifth season in college where people are still waiting for the light to come on. A big opportunity awaits for him this fall.
There is a potential All-Big football player in here somewhere. Michigan and Hinton are doing everything they can to extract it as the team’s potential left tackle.S
Graduate Jeffrey Persi
We might not be giving Jeffrey Persi enough of a chance when speculating on the offensive line competition this summer. Persi has waited out his opportunity and started a game at left tackle in 2022. Last year, Michigan had him play both guard and tackle and it’s that type of versatility that gives him a chance to crack the lineup.
At 6-8, 320 pounds, he is still one of the more physically imposing players on the roster and could factor into the battle at both tackle spots. Is he more than a reserve? If that were the case, would Michigan have brought in a pair of transfers at tackle last year and a guard this year? That is something he will have to prove otherwise in fall camp.
Senior Tristan Bounds
We have only seen five games of Tristan Bounds in his Michigan career, but he will have an opportunity just like everyone else to battle for a spot on the two-deep depth chart. The former three-star recruit has an impressive frame at 6-8, but might still be a bit light at the position at 305 pounds. Right now, he is probably fourth in the pecking order at tackle behind Hinton, Andrew Gentry and Persi.
Junior Andrew Gentry
Standing at 6-7, 327 pounds, it feels like Michigan has Gentry where it wants him in terms of experience and physical development. When he signed with the program three years ago, he was coming off of a two-year mission trip and needed to re-acclimate himself to the game, which started in the weight room. He’s also been cross-trained to contribute at multiple spots along the offensive line.
Last year, Michigan played Gentry for three games at right tackle, one at left tackle, three at guard and also as a sixth offensive lineman. It would be right to assume he factors into all of those spots in a varying range of outcomes. He should start camp with the inside track for the right tackle spot and feels like a fairly safe bet to play there. Gentry reminds us a bit of former Wolverine Andrew Stueber, who started games at both right tackle and right guard in a Michigan uniform.
Junior Connor Jones
Entering his third season in the program, Connor Jones has a shot to compete for a spot on the two-deep depth chart in fall camp. That should put him in direct competition with guys like Persi and Bounds in trying to earn playing time, and a bigger push could be a bit of a conversation-changer. He has also played a bit at guard and could factor into those battles, as well.
Standing at 6-6, 320 pounds, Jones was one of the leaders in his class when he signed with the program. With plenty of snaps up for grabs this summer, he should be given opportunities to compete.
Sophomore Evan Link
The 6-6, 307-pound Virginia product did not see playing time last year, but should be in the mix for a two-deep job, as well. Coming out of high school, he was a four-star prospect and the No. 289 player in the country, per the On3 Industry Ranking. It might not quite be his time yet, but establishing a spot in the pecking order for 2025 could be among the biggest moves he makes this season.
Freshman Blake Frazier
A legacy recruit, Blake Frazier enrolled early and got his feet wet during spring football. He will need some time to grow, currently weighing in at 6-6, 275 pounds, but the fact that he was here during spring ball gives him a leg up on his peers who will join in the summer.
Freshman Ben Roebuck
Ben Roebuck will not be here until the summer, but he physically looks the part already. Coming in at 6-7, 330 pounds, he looks like a college football offensive lineman right out of the box and has some dominant tape against high school competition. Adjusting physically to the college level and playing against guys who are also special athletes is going to take some getting used to. He projects long-term to right tackle.
Freshman Andrew Sprague
Andrew Sprague is arguably the top talent in Michigan’s freshman class on offense, standing at 6-8, 295. On3’s Industry Ranking has him as a top-100 player, and he could be a long-term answer at left tackle. He probably needs to put a bit of weight on, but he’s got good bend and has a mean streak to him. We would probably label him as the highest-upside project in the room, and it feels like the floor is fairly high, too.
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