Five-star freshman Andrew Babalola on Michigan’s left tackle battle: ‘Keep my head down and go to work’

PLYMOUTH, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines are getting ready for fall camp with battles across the offensive line, namely at left tackle. Five-star freshman Andrew Babalola is expected to be a factor in the race and has positioned himself to compete for the job.

Babalola, who enrolled at Michigan this winter, actually has ties to the state. He was born in Bloomfield Township and has enjoyed getting acclimated to Ann Arbor.

“I don’t remember much though because I moved to Kansas City when I was young,” Babalola told The Wolverine at the Champions Circle Golf Classic. “But it’s been great so far. I think coming in early definitely helped getting adjusted and acclimated to everything, especially because I didn’t pick up football until I was much older in my high school career.

”So just getting used to how things flow on the field and off the field. It’s been great so far.”

Babalola was one of two five-star signees in Michigan’s 2025 class along with quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 overall player in the nation. However, the offensive tackle is still a bit green and new to the sport with much of his background coming in basketball.

The athleticism it takes to play that game is something he feels like he can apply to the gridiron.

“ I did the whole thing, including AAU camps and all that,” Babalola said. “I was a big basketball player until my junior year of high school. That was my first love… I would definitely say it does help, just with the footwork and coordination and stuff like that.”

Babalola has drawn the praise of Michigan coaches and teammates this offseason. Likely starting center Greg Crippen sees a guy who has taken his craft seriously, especially learning the playbook.

“ I think he’s done a great job so far,” Crippen told The Wolverine. “I think the biggest thing sometimes with younger guys coming in here is they don’t know the playbook as well, and it’s hard to play fast on the field and when you don’t really know what you’re doing.

“I think he’s done a great job at that, especially through spring ball and just kind of playing and being able to like learn technique and getting to that level. Because you have to do one thing before you’d do the other.”

Like most players his age, Babalola needed some time to adjust to college football. Halfway through spring practices, he feels like it started to click for him.

 ”I would say in the middle,” Babalola revealed. “Really just getting acclimated to the speed of college football. When you’re a young guy, you try, and your head is spinning and you’re thinking about what that technique is. What’s the play? What’s the call here? Stuff like that. During the middle of spring ball, things just slowed down for me and I started to acclimate to the speed of the game more and everything started clicking.”

His skillset and development this offseason have him legitimately in the mix to start at left tackle, but he knows what Michigan’s staff has a good plan for him regardless. It also helps to go up against the defensive line every day, projected to be one of the best in the country.

“ I think for me the biggest thing has just been staying level-headed and keeping my head down,” Babalola said. “I love going to work with the guys every single day. And I know that no matter what happens, the coaches are going to put me in a business to succeed and not to fail. I’m excited to go out in fall camp and compete.”

“In my opinion, we have the best defensive line in the country, and it’s not particularly close,” Babalola said. “Our edges and our defensive tackles… their size, what they can do, their intelligence… It’s a challenge every single day. But at the end of the day, I know it’s one that’s gonna make me better. It’s gonna make going up against other teams easier. So it’s a blessing.”

One of the goals will also be to keep the dominant stretch over Ohio State going. Michigan goes for its fifth-straight over the Buckeyes this fall, but last season’s game was an affirming moment for Babalola, who watched as a recruit from home.

“ [It was great] watching these guys go into enemy territory with no one believing in them and coming out and bullying them for 60 minutes,” Babalola said. “I was on my couch watching the game and everybody’s talking about Ohio State as a great team, best in the country, Michigan’s having a down year. Blah, blah, blah.

“But I’ll just remember watching that video of the guys coming outta the tunnel, hoisting the flag up while all the Ohio State fans are spewing stuff at them. And then they were acting fearless,  and like warriors and going out there. Watching that game, it was unbelievable how the offensive line played, how the defense stepped up, how everyone did. It was a moment that I’ll definitely remember forever.”