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Following Michigan's incredible 2022 season, the Wolverines were faced with having to replace several key elements from a conference championship winning team, particularly on the offensive line. Michigan was tasked with finding a replacement for the best center in the nation in Olu Oluwatimi, who became just the third Wolverine to win the Rimington Trophy last season - an award given to the top center in college football. 

Having had massive success with Oluwatimi after finding him in the transfer portal, Harbaugh and Co. once again turned to the portal for his replacement - this time landing graduate transfer Drake Nugent out of Stanford. As it turns out, Nugent was a perfect fit for the Wolverines up front. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Nugent has played a total of 302 pass block snaps and has allowed zero sacks on the quarterback. His stellar performance at Michigan during the 2023 season has made him a finalist for the coveted Rimington Trophy.

Nugent is the fifth Wolverine to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy and could become the program's fourth winner, joining Olu Oluwitimi (2022), David Baas (2004, co-winner), and David Molk (2011). 

Via MGoBlue.com:

The recognition comes for Nugent on the heels of Michigan's Big Ten Championship Game victory over Iowa last weekend. A first-year Wolverine after joining the program from Stanford, Nugent was a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media as he helped the Wolverines achieve the second 13-0 record in program history.

Nugent has started 13 games this season anchoring the U-M offensive line, named a semifinalist unit for the Joe Moore Award. The Wolverines have multiple rushing touchdowns in 12-of-13 games with Nugent in the lineup and 35 rushing touchdowns total across those 13 games, tied third in the nation. The line supports the Ameche-Dayne Big Ten Running Back of the Year Blake Corum.

In the pass game, the line has allowed just 1.38 sacks per game across Nugent's 13 games while protecting the Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year J.J. McCarthy, who passed for 19 touchdowns in that span and ran for three more. The line has allowed 3.38 tackles for loss per game, on average.

The winner will be announced during ESPN's College Football awards show on Friday, December 8th.

This article first appeared on FanNation Wolverine Digest and was syndicated with permission.

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