Four of Michigan’s five starters on the offensive line last season were NFL draft picks, but the one returner has the potential to be the highest selection of the bunch.
It didn’t take long after the 2020 draft for right tackle Jalen Mayfield to start appearing on several early 2021 mock drafts as a potential first-rounder.
That is certainly high praise for a player entering his redshirted sophomore season with 13 career starts under his belt, but they are projections Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh believes are warranted.
“Expectations are really high,” Harbaugh told reporters on a Zoom call Wednesday. “He looks great. Since Jalen Mayfield has been here, every time I watch the film of practice, I like watching No. 73. That is a thing. I like the way he plays. I like watching him play football. I think, so far, the offseason indicates he’s going to be even better. Super excited for him and his opportunity this year.”
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Entering fall camp last year, Mayfield and Andrew Stueber were in competition for the starting right tackle job -- the only open starting spot along the line.
With Stueber suffering a torn ACL just before the season, Mayfield won the job and never relented. The 6-foot-5, 319-pound Grand Rapids Catholic Central graduate is now the only returning starter heading into 2020, and Harbaugh said he looks the part.
“Jalen Mayfield looks phenomenal as a tackle, as a football player,” Harbaugh said. “He’s another example of somebody who’s really done a great job this entire offseason.”
How the pieces fill in around Mayfield remain to be seen. Spring practices were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and while players are back on campus for volunteer workouts, coaches aren't permitted to get involved until July 24.
Harbaugh provided a little more clarity to the offensive line picture Wednesday.
“(Redshirt sophomore) Ryan Hayes is definitely somebody that’s gained experience. Started at left tackle. Expect really good things from him. Center: (redshirt freshman) Zach Carpenter, (senior) Andrew Vastardis — anticipate those two guys battling it out there and do a great job. The guard position, there’s gonna be a few guys. (Redshirt junior) Chuck Filiaga’s looking good, doing great. He’s really developed. I think he’s ready to play. (Redshirt freshman) Karsen Barnhart would be another there at guard. Andrew Stueber will be back and is back from his ACL injury he had last year. He’s looking good. There’s some real good guys in there and they’ll be battling for those positions.”
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Come July 24, Harbaugh said he expects the competition to ratchet up.
“Overall, I would say it looks good,” Harbaugh said. “Both from a strength standpoint, really good length there and the athleticism is really good in that group. Ed Warinner does a great job coaching them and we’ll know more as we start getting them together.”
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