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Michigan Wolverines relying on freshman with potential to turn poor position room around against Nebraska

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By AJ Schulte | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Dating back to last season, the offensive line has been a problem for the Michigan Wolverines. They haven't had stable play up front, and it has limited their ceiling on that side of the ball. To make matters worse, the Wolverines have already battled injuries across the board. True freshman left tackle Andrew Babalola is out for the season, while starting guards Gio El-Hadi and Brady Norton have missed time recently and are out for Michigan's game against Nebraska.

While these injuries are unfortunate, they've opened the path for a young player to step in that the Wolverines' staff is confident in. In fact, they think they might have found a player who will be "hard to knock out of the lineup".

Redshirt freshman Jake Guarnera stepped in for Brady Norton at right guard last week against Central Michigan. While the Chippewas weren't exactly stellar competition, Guarnera stepped in and played well, helping Michigan rack up 616 yards of offense, including almost 400 on the ground.

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Can Jake Guarnera Lock Down A Starting Job?

Against Nebraska, it sounds like Michigan will roll out the same offensive line combination they had against Central Michigan. Evan Link and Andrew Sprague will man the tackle spots, while Nathan Efobi, Greg Crippen, and Jake Guarnera will form the interior.

Guarnera impressed coaches with his debut performance against Central Michigan, and if he keeps up his strong play, the right guard spot seems his for the taking for the rest of the season, even when Brady Norton returns from injury.

"It was 'only' Central Michigan, but the freshman redshirt Guarnera really opened some eyes", according to The Wolverine, "If he plays fairly well Saturday, it's going to be hard to get him out of the starting lineup."

If Guarnera can lock down the starting right guard spot, it would be a good sign for this coaching staff's ability to identify and develop talent, especially with players like Ty Haywood, Avery Gach, and Babalola waiting in the wings for their turns soon.

It's still early on in his career, but this is a position worth keeping an eye on as the Wolverines open up conference play against Nebraska this weekend.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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