PASADENA — During the Ohio State game, the Michigan football offensive line had to shift some things around due to a season-ending injury suffered by All-American guard Zak Zinter. Now, heading into the Rose Bowl, Michigan’s offensive line remains a question mark, yet Sherrone Moore and Trente Jones seem quite confident.
Latest intel on the Michigan football offensive line
Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s offensive line coach, and offensive coordinator has been all over this fall — he has ever served as the team’s head coach for games against No. 10 Penn State, Maryland, and No. 2 Ohio State (he won all three). Heading into the Rose Bowl, Moore and his offensive line have a new challenge: replacing All-American Zak Zinter.
From Sherrone Moore
Nov 25, 2023; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines interim head coach Sherrone Moore watches from the sideline during the first half of the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Stadium.
While Moore would not get into specifics, he told me on Saturday that Michigan football is in good shape.
“We’ll see (what the O-line rotation looks like in the Rose Bowl),” Sherrone Moore told me. “We got some things working — boys are healthy and they’re ready to go.”
He also added that center Drake Nugent, who has been banged up ever since an ankle injury against Ohio State, is back to 100 percent right now.
From Trente Jones
Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines offensive lineman Trente Jones (53) against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
I had a chance to stop by and speak with Trent Jones, a veteran offensive lineman who will likely be getting the starting nod against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. While Jones has not been a starter for most of the year, he says that the Michigan football offensive line room has not been focused on set rotations, which has kept him prepped for anything.
“It’s never really different, because at the end of the day, (Sherrone Moore) said there is no set rotation (this year). He has been saying that since day one,” Trente Jones told me. “Everybody has to be ready — that’s why I was so ready for the Ohio State game and the Maryland game.
“… Regardless of who starts for that game, I know that (the other linemen) are gonna be ready; I’m ready for the game. When that moment comes, I’m going to make sure that I’m ready for that game. … I always just try to stay prepared (and) keep God first.”
On Monday, we’ll see what the Michigan football offensive line rotation looks like. For the Ohio State game and Big Ten title game, Michigan moved Karsen Barnhart to guard and Trente Jones to tackle, though it sounds like Sherrone Moore is still working out who he wants to start against Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
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