Jim Harbaugh talks Michigan offensive line, tight end depth
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh didn’t hold back on the recent In the Trenches podcast, sharing starters at every position. He’s clearly excited about his eighth team and its potential.
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On Saturday, Harbaugh gave his plan for his two quarterbacks, senior quarterback Cade McNamara and sophomore J.J. McCarthy. He also talked about who would be blocking for them and blocking/catching passes at tight end.
“Tremendous,” Harbaugh said of the Michigan offensive line in camp. “[Grad student] Ryan Hayes is the starting left tackle. He’s been great. [Senior] Trevor Keegan, starting left guard — been great. [Virginia transfer and grad student] Olu Oluwatimi is the starting center with a great backup in [sophomore] Greg Crippen. [Junior Zak Zinter] your right guard, and [senior] Trente Jones is going to start at right tackle.”
But there are several behind them who could fill in if necessary, he added. That speaks to the depth, starting with senior Karsen Barnhart.
“He is the sixth starter. He’s the sixth man,” Harbaugh said. “He goes seamlessly in at right tackle or either guard. Or, if we have an issue at left tackle, Karsen Barnahrt is the backup — the next guy up. Call him the starter.
“He sits in the front row of the meetings with the other offensive starters, because he can play any of those positions as a backup except center. Center, we’d go with Greg Crippen.”
Michigan tight end room is stacked
At tight end, Michigan has two elite starters in veterans Erick All and Luke Schoonmaker. Harbaugh has called them perhaps the best duo in the country. Sixth-year Joel Hongiford “will play a lot,” Harbaugh added, and walk-on Max Bredeson — brother of former Michigan All-Big Ten lineman Ben Bredeson — has “surged into the two-deep” along with veterans Carter Selzer and Matt Hibner.
“It’s kind of situationally … Hibner, him and Max are kind of interchangeable there, as well,” Harbaugh said. “Colston Loveland has surged as a freshman. [Walk-on] Hunter Neff has stayed completely healthy coming off an ACL injury, and he’ll get a lot of playing time.
“You’ll see those eight tight ends all in the mix this fall.”
They’ll all be on display Sept. 3 when Michigan plays Colorado State in Ann Arbor.
