Michigan offensive line coach Grant Newsome talks to Blue Team players during the second half of the spring game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, April 20, 2024. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan achieves rare feat in landing two top 25 offensive tackles in the 2025 recruiting cycle

Originally posted on Michigan Wolverines on SI
By Jerred Johnson | Last updated Feb 14, 2025 11:59 AM ET

By securing the commitments of 5-star offensive tackle Andrew Babalola and high 4-star Ty Haywood, Coach Sherrone Moore has significantly strengthened Michigan’s offensive line for the next three to four years. With these two highly-rated recruits in the fold, Michigan enters rare territory, joining only four other programs that have successfully signed two top-25 offensive tackles in the same recruiting class. This impressive haul gives the Wolverines an undeniable advantage in building a dominant offensive line that will be critical in their success moving forward.

Michigan has long relied on its offensive and defensive line play to maintain a dominant presence in college football, and the addition of Haywood and Babalola makes that blueprint even more effective and attainable. Their ability to dominate up front will provide stability and protection for the Wolverines’ backfield and quarterback, and in turn, open up opportunities for explosive plays. For years, Michigan’s offensive line has been the backbone of its success, and this year’s recruits only enhance that tradition of physicality and dominance.

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This class of offensive linemen is especially valuable with the incredible talent that Michigan has assembled around them. The Wolverines have an elite quarterback prospect in Bryce Underwood, who has the potential to take the offense to new heights. Underwood’s ability to make plays from the pocket will be maximized with a strong offensive line in front of him. Furthermore, the addition of top-tier running backs like J ustice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, both of whom bring elite vision and breakaway speed, adds an extra layer of depth to the offensive unit. With these elite running backs behind a pair of talented offensive tackles, Michigan’s offense has the potential to become a dynamic, multi-faceted threat that can dominate both in the air and on the ground.

In short, with Babalola and Haywood anchoring the offensive line, Michigan now has the foundation to execute a balanced, high-powered offense. The combination of elite linemen, a talented quarterback, and explosive running backs could lead the Wolverines to unprecedented success, both in the Big Ten and on the national stage. The future of Michigan football looks brighter than ever as Coach Moore’s vision for an unstoppable offense is beginning to come to fruition.

This article first appeared on Michigan Wolverines on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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