Michigan football: How Olu Oluwatimi has become general of the offensive line
Michigan football added a plug-and-play star to its offensive line this offseason with the addition of graduate center Olu Oluwatimi. He was a Rimington Award finalist last season at Virginia and has brought a steady, reliable level of play to the interior of the offensive line at U-M.
Virginia is a respected and competitive ACC program, but the chance to win at a higher level was too much to pass up. Michigan is a program out to compete for championships, and Oluwatimi wanted to be a part of that.
“Even before I entered the portal, I knew that Michigan was the place I wanted to be, based off the scheme, the brand of football they play, and obviously the university,” Oluwatimi said this week. “So when they reached out to me after I entered the portal, it was like a perfect match.”
It did not take long for Oluwatimi to fit in at Michigan, either. He was inserted into the starting lineup upon his arrival this winter and earned the respect of his teammates enough to be named an alternate captain.
“I found out I was a reserve captain for offense, and it was a great feeling.” Oluwatimi said. “I haven’t been here for too long, but the fact that my teammates thought that high of me, and to get that many votes, it meant a lot.”
The Michigan offensive line general
Oluwatimi’s presence and leadership were praised this week by junior running back Blake Corum, who sees him as every bit as important as the quarterback.
“There’s a quarterback general,” Corum said. “Then there’s the center. And he’s the one that makes the point, telling the offensive line which way to slide … He’s really the general, right? So without the offensive line, football wouldn’t exist. Having a center like Olu, making those points and looking at the defense … makes the quarterback’s job easier, makes my job a lot easier.
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“Quarterback is the general, but the center is the general as well. He’s tremendous. I’m so glad that we were able to get him.
“And then the rest of the guys too: Hayes, Trevor Keegan, Zak, Trente. All my offensive line, they’re doing a wonderful job. Sometimes I feel like they don’t get enough credit. But I’m here to tell you that it makes my job so easy. It doesn’t even make sense the things that they’re able to do. Shoutout to them.”
Oluwatimi hopes his decision pays off in the biggest of ways – by helping Michigan win another Big Ten Championship and potentially more.
“I am very happy about my decision,” Oluwatimi said. “And I am very happy about how things unfolded. We’re playing well as a team, and we have a chance to do some really big things as the season progresses.”
