Myles Hinton planning return to Michigan, identifies young linemen who can step up with him
PASADENA — Michigan Wolverines football senior offensive tackle Myles Hinton has had an interesting first year at U-M, after transferring in from Stanford. Hinton began the year as the Wolverines’ starting right tackle but was replaced in the starting lineup early in Big Ten play. He’s remained one of the team’s top seven linemen but hasn’t been able to grab ahold of a starting job since.
“It’s been good. A year of growth, for sure, a year of growth, especially on the field,” Hinton said of his first season at Michigan. “I feel like I got a lot better from my time at Stanford to now.”
TheWolverine.com asked Hinton if he plans to return to Michigan for his final year of eligibility.
“I’ll probably stay. Yeah, I’m not gonna leave,” Hinton said. “I’m not planning on leaving for anywhere. If my stock was higher in the draft, I would’ve went, but it’s not.”
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Hinton opened the Wolverines’ games against East Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green and Rutgers, before becoming a backup until starting at left tackle against Maryland due to an injury.
Hinton says he sees a clear path to a starting job at tackle in 2024. Graduate right tackle/guard Karsen Barnhart is headed to the NFL, he said Saturday, opening up a spot. The left tackle job will also be up for grabs with graduate LaDarius Henderson being out of eligibility after this season.
“Yeah, for sure. It would mean a lot,” Hinton said of that possibility. “I feel like the pieces are there.”
Working under Michigan offensive coordinator and line coach Sherrone Moore has helped Hinton prepare for that opportunity to seize a starting job.
“He’s been awesome. I feel like having a great O-line mind helped me grow in that aspect and helped my growth, for sure,” he noted.
Hinton is the brother of former Michigan defensive tackle Christopher Hinton, a Los Angeles Chargers practice squad player who was on the sideline for U-M’s practice Friday. Myles said it has been great to see his brother this week.
Having an older brother in the program and being a Michigan recruit out of high school despite ultimately choosing Stanford has given Hinton the chance to know head coach Jim Harbaugh for several years. His experience playing for him was exactly what he expected.
“Not at all,” Hinton replied when asked if anything has surprised him. “He is who he is. In recruiting, the same guy. Here, the same guy. I like that a lot about him.”
Myles Hinton identifies Michigan offensive linemen who can step up
Hinton said freshman tackle Evan Link is one on the rise, impressing behind the scenes.
“Evan Link. He’s a freshman,” Hinton said of which tackle has stood out the most. “He’s going to be a really good player, for sure. He has a good set, a patient set. He’s a strong kid, too. Once he gets that speed that college linemen have, he’s going to be really good.”
There are two on the interior that have caught Hinton’s eye.
“At guard, for sure [Michigan junior] Gio[vanni El-Hadi],” Hinton said. “He’s a player. He’s a player. Strong, physical, a technician. At center, ‘Heem [junior center Raheem Anderson]. He’s gonna be a player, as well.
“We’ve got a lot of good players in our room. It’s hard to pick two or three.”
