WolverineTV: Balas & Skene on Michigan spring O-line, expectations

Former Michigan All-Big Ten offensive lineman Doug Skene knows championships, having won five Big Ten title rings in Ann Arbor. He’s one of only 13 people, in fact, to have accomplished that feat at U-M.

RELATED

• Opinion: How Michigan football position battles stand — the defense

• What they’re saying about Michigan’s 2022 spring game

Skene joins Chris Balas to talk offensive line play this spring, and he has high hopes for a group with great experience. It also adds a potential upgrade at center in Virginia transfer Olu Oluwatimi, one of the top off-season acquisitions by any team at any position.

While there’s always talk about the importance of a good left tackle, etc., it starts in the middle, Skene noted. Oluwatimi has earned high marks early for his play in his few months at Michigan.

“He brings a lot of experience,” Michigan veteran left tackle Ryan Hayes said. “He learned his stuff in the season already before spring ball started, so he knows all the calls. He’s going to help lead this O-line to … we can be even better than last year with him.

“One of the first days we put on pads, in one-on-one pass rush, we saw him lock up some better D-linemen and said, this guy’s going to be good for us. I think we knew early that he’s going to bring a lot of experience, a lot of maturity to our group.”

Michigan right tackle Trente Jones had a great spring. He’s been very good in his first taste of significant action there. He’s the leader in the clubhouse heading into fall, though Karsen Barnhart will push him.

Michigan left guard Trevor Keegan and right guard Zak Zinter, meanwhile, have great power and experience on the interior and are ready to take their games to the next level, too.

We talk about all that and more in today’s Michigan football video and audio podcast.