thayer munford

Previously: Quarterback, Running Back, Receiver

Our series of The Enemy, Ranked 2021 rumbles on to the some of the biggest boys on the field and the offensive lines. Michigan gets a bit lucky this year in not having to draw a traditional OL factory in Iowa, as well as not facing some other pretty good lines for Illinois and Minnesota, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of good OL schools, and lots of good linemen, on the schedule. As a matter of fact, we start with the school that you all knew was coming: 

1. Wisconsin 

The Badgers are an OL powerhouse and have been for a long time. This season they return a lot of experience, with Josh Seltzner, Kayden Lyles, and Logan Bruss all locked in at their spots, while Tyler Beach looks set to start at LT. All four of those guys graded out well last season according to PFF, and all four were projected as All-B1G selections on Seth's pre-season selections in HTTV. The one remaining spot looks to be going to Jack Nelson, who the coaching staff is very high on, which means former 5* OT Logan Brown may have to wait another year to start, which goes to show you the depth that this group also has. Wisconsin allowed just 1.71 sacks per game last season, one of the better marks of any P5 school on Michigan's schedule, and returning so much experience, this OL should be even better this year and will likely find its home atop the conference. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: Progressively worse offensive lines]

Previously: Quarterback, Running Back, Wide Receiver & Tight End

I'm bringing back this preview feature from before my time off; the exercise is to rank Michigan's opponents, as well as the Wolverines themselves, in each position group. This is particularly useful to do in a year when roster turnover and late-offseason changes (laaaaaaaaaaaaaate-offseason changes) are so prevalent; I'll do my best in these posts to highlight significant opt-outs, opt-ins, and the like.

I'm not gonna bother bolding starters and italicizing backups because this is the offensive line; we're only discussing starters or this would be 10,000 words. 

Tier I: Nationally Elite

the holes will continue to be depressingly large [Fuller]

1. Ohio State. The Buckeyes got a major boost, as if they needed it, when All-American junior right guard Wyatt Davis opted back into the season when the Big Ten announced they'd play. Davis, who'll likely be the first interior lineman off the board in the 2021 NFL Draft, leads a unit featuring two other returning starters: senior left tackle Thayer Munford and junior center Josh Myers, both All-Big Ten players and touted NFL prospects themselves; Myers is an All-American candidate.

How does OSU fill in the gaps? With five-stars, of course. Harry Miller, who saw time last year as a true freshman backup center, has secured the left guard position. At right tackle, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Paris Johnson Jr. are in a battle. Johnson is a true freshman, sure, but he was also the #9 player in the country and enrolled early; you're in good shape if that's the biggest question mark on your line.

This line isn't impenetrable; they allowed the #98 sack rate in the country last year. Some of that had to do with Justin Fields keeping plays alive with his legs, though, and the Buckeyes were a dominant run-blocking team. This is one of the most talented lines in the country, perhaps even the most talented.

2. Wisconsin. The entire theme of my Wisconsin HTTV preview was "it's Wisconsin" and that applies to the perennially dominant line. From that preview:

Another early entry to the NFL, center Tyler Biadasz, left yet another hole. But it’s Wisconsin. Second-team all-conference left tackle Cole Van Lanen spurned the NFL to anchor the offensive line for his senior season. Redshirt junior Logan Bruss made honorable mention All-Big Ten and can line up at either guard or tackle; classmates Kayden Lyles and Tyler Beach also have plenty of on-field experience. Five-star 2019 OL Logan Brown battled injuries in his redshirt year but has the talent to start. It looks like business as usual up front.

Yes, Wisconsin pulls in the occasional five-star OL these days, which is a terrifying thought. While the overall talent level isn't on par with OSU, their track record speaks for itself. They were nearly on OSU's level in the ground game and were the best sack-preventing line in the conference outside of MSU, which was getting the ball out as fast as humanly possible to hide a terrible line. While Wisconsin likes the quick-passing game themselves, they weren't hiding anything.

That's a major comfort for UW as they suddenly must replace not only record-setting back Jonathan Taylor but also starting quarterback Jack Coan, who underwent foot surgery after a practice injury and is out indefinitely.

[Hit THE JUMP for two good lines, two questionable ones, a chasm, and some laughs.]