Intense, physical practices, high level of competition stand out to Michigan transfer addition Josh Priebe

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Offensive lineman Josh Priebe won 19 games and had two winning seasons in four years at Northwestern, before transferring to Michigan ahead of the 2024 campaign. Priebe has immediately noticed differences between the two teams in his three-plus months in Ann Arbor.

It’s not that Northwestern isn’t a serious program, because it is, with the Wildcats even winning eight games in 2023. But Michigan, the defending national champion, is a cut above most, including its Big Ten counterparts.

“Just the intensity overall,” the 6-foot-5, 305-pounder said of the differences. “There’s more time invested certainly with the practices — they’re longer, there’s more hitting, there’s more physical contact. And I think that’s one of those things that is, I know, going to make me better as a player. The practices here, I can already tell, are going to make the games feel a lot easier.”

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Priebe also said that “the practice style is definitely different compared to what I was used to.”

The level of competition in practice might also be a step up, with Priebe — who’s playing mostly at left guard — going up against Michigan junior defensive tackles Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham.

“Going against guys like Mason Graham and KG, there’s no way that’s not going to make you better,” Priebe said with a smile. “I have had a decent amount of experience playing in the conference, and I haven’t gone against guys with that level and that ability.

“Sometimes, you play teams where there’s one guy who’s a really good player. But when you have both of those guys, you’re going to be going against them every single time. That level of competition forces you to get better, and that’s what’s been so great about Michigan so far is that guys develop at such a higher rate because of the level of competition and just the overall culture surrounding that.”

Why Josh Priebe chose Michigan

The Niles, Mich., native chose Michigan for a number of reasons, including the coaching staff. But when head coach Jim Harbaugh departed for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers just weeks after Priebe joined the program, he wasn’t caught off guard and didn’t flinch. Sherrone Moore, his position coach for just a few weeks, was promoted to head coach.

“I wasn’t necessarily devastated either way,” Priebe said. “I was prepared that something could happen. I was kind of told that Coach Moore might be put in that position if something did happen. They were always very honest and open with me. So when that did happen, I wasn’t really concerned, and I was really happy with all of the changes that they did make — and I’m still very satisfied.”

His decision to come to Michigan was for more than just Harbaugh. The winning ways and development of offensive linemen were also key factors. Priebe even noted that he watched some film of Michigan’s line while studying opposing defenses over the years, and he came away impressed.

“Just the overall excellence of the program, where it’s at,” Priebe said of why he made the move. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for me to pursue my dream of playing in the NFL and proving myself in every way possible.

“One of the things I was really looking forward to is the strength program. I had a few prior injuries. Obviously, I’m healthy this offseason, and the ability to develop in the program that they have here was something that was really appealing to me.

“Also, as an offensive lineman, the culture here surrounding that position was also very appealing. It’s been great so far.”

The Wolverines lost their top six offensive linemen to the NFL Draft, so Priebe is a part of a new wave of Michigan players that will have to step up in the trenches.

“It’s been really good for me as a player,” Priebe said. “I feel like I’ve been able to grow and develop, and I think as an offensive line, there are a lot of people, a lot of new people in different positions that I think everyone’s learning how to play with each other, guys are getting shuffled around. I think our communication has been good so far. Just continuing to compete with one another and push each other.”

Priebe was a tad hesitant on how he would be received as a newcomer on a Michigan team that won the national championship with a 15-0 campaign a year ago, but the experience has been positive so far.

“It’s been great,” Priebe explained. “One of the things as a transfer that you always worry about is, ‘How are the guys going to view me or accept me?’ But one of the things that’s been so relieving the entire time I’ve been here is that everyone has welcomed me with open arms. There hasn’t been any tension or awkwardness. I’ve only been here for three months, but it feels like I’ve been here for a year.

“It’s been great. A lot of people do talk about the culture here, but until you’ve been a part of it, you don’t really know how great it is, so it’s been awesome.”