Wolverine TV podcast: Balas & Skene on Michigan spring line play
The Michigan offense line continues to impress, and there seems to be more depth up front than there’s been in years. Three starters return, and the two replacements — center Olu Oluwatimi and right tackle Trente Jones — appear to be at least as good as their predecessors.
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Oluwatimi, a Rimington Award finalist last year, was exactly what Skene expected to see on film. He’s been outstanding since he arrived, and he was all that in the spring game.
“He brings a lot of experience,” Michigan tackle Ryan Hayes said after the spring. “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 gonna be good for us.’ I think we knew early that he was going to bring a lot of experience, a lot of maturity to our group.”
Jones, meanwhile, isn’t the only young Michigan tackle to impress. Jeff Persi and others were solid and held their own.
“They’ve all matured,” Hayes said. “They’ve all put muscle on in the weight room this offseason. Tristan [Bounds] and Persi, every day you can see them climbing in spring ball — one practice to now — they’ve gotten a lot better. The future of the tackles is going to [be enhanced].”
They’re all starting to bond. Oluwatimi and Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara, especially, have worked well together.
“We had a really good relationship,” McNamara said. Olu and I, we’re starting to come closer. He’s an extremely smart player. I think him being able to come to a new school and already change what he’s changing as far as what he’s doing on the line of scrimmage this early is very, very impressive, let alone his talent.
“He’s strong. As we continue to work and continue talking, I think we’re going to have a great relationship.”
