Ahead of season opener, Sherrone Moore updates Michigan's ongoing O-Line competitions

Michigan ranked ninth-to-last in the country in returning production this offseason, according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. Head coach Sherrone More and his staff shouldered the responsibility of replacing several stars from last year’s national champion team.

That process has involved an array of position battles this offseason. Moore provided updates on a handful of them Monday, including the latest on two offensive line competitions.

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Moore, who notably coached Michigan’s offensive line on top of his offensive coordinator duties from 2021-23, said senior Dom Giudice, a former defensive tackle, is battling with senior Greg Crippen at center. Graduate Raheem Anderson is still in the mix but is behind Giudice and Crippen.

“I think Crippen and Dom have been the top two in camp so far,” Moore said. “So we’ll see how they compete this week.”

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Crippen has appeared in 15 games at center in his Michigan career, including nine last season, during which he piled up 98 offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Giudice, meanwhile, has played just 25 career offensive snaps — he began his run with Wolverines as a reserve defensive lineman.

Then, at right tackle, junior Andrew Gentry is getting a push from second-year lineman Evan Link, who joined the program last offseason as the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 21 tackle prospect in the 2023 class but didn’t see game action last year. Those are the top-two candidates at that position, according to Moore.

Gentry has the experience advantage having appeared in all 15 games on special teams during the 2023 season, in addition to scattering 52 offensive snaps across 10 outings and every position but center, according to PFF.

Moore was asked what Giudice and Link have done to put themselves in contention for the center and right tackle jobs.

“I think just from a knowledge of the playbook standpoint and knowing what to do and how to do it, both have the talent, both have the ability,” Moore said.

“But [it’s] the toughness and the mental toughness to withstand all the strain, and as you go through camp and different things happen, [you have to] be able to be flexible: play right, play left, play center, play guard, and be one of the best five. Because that’s all we’re gonna do is try to find the best five. That’s how we built the line. That’s what we’re going to continue to do.”

Fifth-year senior Myles Hinton, graduate Josh Priebe — a transfer from Northwestern — and senior Giovanni El-Hadi are expected to start at left tackle, left guard and right guard, respectively, Saturday night against Fresno State.

The other two spots up front are under the microscope this week in Ann Arbor.