Michigan football: Center spot appears to be in good hands for years
It’s not often a Rimington Award finalist with several years’ experience shows up on your doorstep, but that’s the luxury Michigan was afforded this offseason. Virginia transfer Olu Oluwatimi will be a favorite to win the honor as the nation’s top center, and he’s got plenty of talent behind him.
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Michigan sophomore Raheem Anderson has changed his body, and while he’s primarily at guard, he could also play center. Ditto junior Reece Atteberry, who was having a good spring until an injury sidelined him late in the session.
But sophomore Greg Crippen appears to be the heir apparent, and he’s got a lot working for him. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has been singing his praises since he arrived on campus last year as an early enrollee, and he’s not alone. Departing right tackle Andrew Stueber said in one of his Michigan exit interviews, “Greg Crippen is going to be a great player … obviously, he needs to come along as a freshman,” and he meant it.
Stueber and departed center Andrew Vastardis are “doing threat things,” now,” Crippen said recently. But he believes the line can be even better than last year’s Joe Moore-winning (best offensive line in the country) crew, for one big reason.
“Coach [Sherrone] Moore is awesome,” Crippen said. “I’m excited for this year.”
The 6-4, 290-pounder took snaps in six games last year and impressed. He saw action in the opener against Western Michigan, looked good in a night game win over Washington and saw action in four other contests.
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He might have been in line to start this season had Oluwatimi not joined the Michigan program. Regardless, his time is coming, and he continues to put in the work.
An injury slowed him this spring, but he’s back on track.
“I broke my hand, which was just some more just adversity. You need that in your life,” Crippen said. “I have a lot of motivation right now to keep getting better every day.”
He looks the part. He’s gotten stronger, and he’s added plenty of muscle since he arrived. The Michigan sophomore spent a year learning from Vastardis, and now he’s got one of the best in the country competing with him, as well in Oluwatimi.
“He’s a great player. I think he’s going to make me a better player, too,” Crippen said. “I’m going to battle every day.
“But he should be doing great things. He’s going to be playing in the NFL [soon].”
Crippen could, too, if he continues to follow his current path at Michigan.
