A fall camp position switch for Michigan football
Michigan Wolverines football sophomore Brooks Bahr began his college career as a defensive lineman, but he’s shifted to the other side of the ball this fall camp, now listed on the U-M roster as an offensive lineman.
Bahr did not see game action as a freshman in 2023, meaning he has four seasons of eligibility remaining.
Bahr underwent a significant physical transformation this offseason. Last year, Bahr was listed at 6-foot-5, 298 pounds. In the Wolverines’ roster release earlier this month, it was revealed that Bahr is up to 319 pounds.
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That 21-pound increase was the second on the Michigan team this offseason, trailing only sophomore offensive lineman Nathan Efobi, who went from 285 to 307 (plus-22). A mountain of a man, Bahr is the ninth heaviest player on Michigan’s 2024 roster.
Bahr moving to offensive line isn’t a big surprise. According to The Wolverine’s EJ Holland, there was “chatter” about Bahr potentially moving to the offensive side dating back to his recruitment in 2022.
Additionally, Bahr was recruited by former Michigan assistant Mike Elston, who’s no longer with the program. Elston is the defensive line coach with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Wolverines replaced Elston with Lou Esposito this spring. Grant Newsome — previously the tight ends coach — is now leading the offensive line.
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Even Bahr’s primary recruiter, Elston, admitted last season that it was going to take time for Bahr to see the field in games.
“Brooks Bahr [is] a project,” Elston said. “We know he’s a project, and he learns well. I think he’s going to pick it up really well. The other guys were just a little bit further ahead of him and ahead of him in technique, but he will be a really good player down the road.”
Bahr is one of multiple Michigan linemen to make the move from one side of the ball to the other. Senior offensive lineman Dominick Giudice, for example, began his career as a defensive tackle. Junior defensive lineman Alessandro Lorenzetti, on the other hand, started on offense. Neither Giudice nor Lorenzetti have made significant impacts during their Michigan careers.
It’s unclear if Bahr will play tackle, guard or center, but Michigan has expressed a need to build depth up front on offense. He could be part of that effort moving forward.
