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The Michigan Wolverines beat was able to speak to offensive tackle Ryan Hayes on Thursday afternoon as football practices continue in Ann Arbor despite no scheduled games through the rest of 2020. A group that already was replacing four starters coming into the year is now replacing a fifth with Jalen Mayfield opting to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft, but it appears we have a bit of an idea who is lining up where.
Hayes goes from being a promising young piece to now being one of the key veterans on the line, as he is practicing and taking first-team reps at left tackle. When asked who would fill out the rest of the starting five, he declined to share who the starters are in stone, but revealed who has been taking first-team snaps.
Here is how things have looked in non-padded practices, per Hayes:
Left tackle: Redshirt sophomore Ryan Hayes (6-foot-7, 302 pounds)
Left guard: Redshirt junior Chuck Filiaga (6-6, 345 lbs) and redshirt freshman Trevor Keegan (6-6, 327 lbs)
Center: Fifth-year senior Andrew Vastardis (6-3, 296 lbs)
Right guard: Redshirt junior Andrew Stueber (6-7, 339 lbs)
Right tackle: Redshirt freshman Karsen Barnhart (6-4, 301 lbs)
“It’s definitely been interesting without some of those faces that have been in the room for so long,” Hayes said. “Especially with Jalen (Mayfield) leaving. But I think all of our guys are hungry to lead; they’re hungry to play. So, we’re going to be okay”
Hayes also mentioned redshirt freshman Trente Jones (6-4, 305 lbs) and true freshman Zak Zinter (6-6, 334 lbs) as players that have also been turning heads during practices.
With this in mind and other rumblings to come out of Ann Arbor since the offseason began, here’s a best guess as to how things may be lining up in the trenches.
(Note: Tables will appear better in landscape view on mobile)
Projected OL Two-Deep
| Left tackle | Left guard | Center | Right guard | Right tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Left tackle | Left guard | Center | Right guard | Right tackle |
| Ryan Hayes (RS So.) | Chuck Filiaga (RS Jr.) or Trevor Keegan (RS Fr.) | Andrew Vastardis (RS Sr.) or Zach Carpenter (RS Fr.) | Andrew Stueber (RS Jr.) | Karsen Barnhart (RS Fr.) |
| Trente Jones (RS Fr.) | Zak Zinter (Fr.) | Joel Honigford (RS Jr.) |
Players are not permitted to wear pads in practices right now, so much of the work that has been put in has revolved around footwork and technique. That, and the fact there have been some injury rumblings puts a bit of an asterisk next to this, but given the information available, this is the group that Michigan is working with on the offensive line.