Michigan starting OL raves about Justin Tress, Abigail O'Connor at NFL Combine

The Michigan Wolverines were represented by 18 players at the 2024 NFL Combine in Indianapolis with a third of those guys coming from head coach Sherrone Moore’s offensive line group. Moore helmed the room from 2021-23 and immediately changed the culture.

There were reports out of the combine that NFL teams believe Michigan’s offensive line prospects are a year or two advanced on the rest of the field in terms of their football knowledge and awareness. Karsen Barnhart, who played both tackle and guard in his time in Ann Arbor, explained why that is.

“I just think that the way we’ve been prepared our whole time at Michigan, and just playing the number of snaps that we all played, and knowing the playbook like the back of our hand, I feel like I could teach it right now to everybody,” Barnhart said. “I think that’s what the advantage that we have is all the snaps we played and the years that we’ve been at Michigan as well.”

Of course, a major part of the turnaround was the strength and conditioning program headed by guru Ben Herbert, who left this offseason for the Los Angeles Chargers. Justin Tress was his second in command in the building and has stepped into the big chair. Barnhart said that the momentum built in the weight room should continue under his watch.

“He’s a character,” Barnhart said. “I love him. He was awesome to have around. And I think he’s going to be right at the top of college football for strength coaches. He’s got energy to him that everybody loves and he’s somebody that’s gonna do well.

“Tress has got a little [Herbert-like] stare to him sometimes too, but he’s got a fun side. Once you get to know him and are really one of his boys, he’s awesome. He and [Sean] Lockwood there, they always talk about when we’re squatting, it’s a party in the basement. They got some good things going and that weight room is going to be just fine.”

Nutrition is as critical in building what Michigan has done on the field over the last few years. With Abigail O’Connor sticking around, Barnhart believes she deserves as much credit as any for the success in Ann Arbor.

“I think Abigail is a huge part of our success and how our bodies are put together,” Barnhart said. “How she worked with Herb last year and all the previous years. And I think she’s a main contributor to that, in addition to everybody in that building helped us get to where we want to be and what we did.”

Barnhart now looks to sell himself to NFL teams as a versatile piece to their room. At the combine, he revealed that he has started to practice snapping in an attempt show he can play all five positions up front.

He said the event was a huge positive for him as he continues to develop.

“The biggest thing I took away is just having different competition to play against and that you can see that the next level is a little different,” Barnhart said. “Just from going to the next level compared to high school where you’re getting recruited to now you have to meet with these teams and put your best foot forward with them and show them the kind of person you really are.”