Michigan's offensive line should be a 'cornerstone' next year

Mark Huyge started 9 games for Michigan this year between right guard and right tackle, but the redshirt sophomore finished the season as the No. 1 backup at both positions.

“I had an OK season, but obviously there’s a lot, lot to work on,” Huyge said earlier this week during a charity appearance at The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County. “Just from overall technique to strength, just trying to get better so next year we’ll be in a good bowl game.”

Michigan offensive lineman Mark Huyge hauls a box filled with food off the pile to give to one of the many recipients of the Washtenaw County Salvation Army's Angel Tree Toy Drive on Wednesday.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

For now, Huyge is projected as a starter on a line that might finally be an asset next year.

Left tackle Mark Ortmann and jack-of-all-trades David Moosman graduate, but center David Molk - Michigan’s best lineman - should return from a torn ACL and Steve Schilling is an anchor at left guard.

That leaves Huyge, swing tackle Perry Dorrestein and redshirt freshman Patrick Omameh penciled in at 3 positions, with John Ferrara and a trio of promising freshmen also in the mix.

Dorrestein started 8 of the final 9 games at right tackle after injuries to Molk (foot and knee) forced Huyge to move to guard. Huyge returned to tackle when a back injury knocked Dorrestein out of the Purdue game, but his replacement, Omameh, played well enough at guard that he started the final 3 games.

Huyge likely will open spring practice at right tackle, with Dorrestein on the left side, but he said his ultimate position doesn’t matter as long as he has a chance to get on the field.

“I think we’ll be better (as an offensive line), as good if not better than this past year,” Huyge said. “Some of us will have a couple years in the system and I think we’ll be ready to go.”

And they’ll be pushed.

The 3 linemen in Michigan’s 2009 recruiting class - Taylor Lewan, Michael Schofield and Quinton Washington - all drew rave reviews at times this fall for their work on the scout team.

“Quinton’s going to be great,” Moosman said. “He’s a big, strong kid. Lewan and Schofield can really move. Lewan’s sort of got the pass pro down, he needs a little work on his run. Quinton’s got the run down, needs to work on his pass, but that’s to be expected. They’re definitely going to work on that in the offseason.”

The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Washington is the strongest of the bunch and will push for playing time at guard, while Schofield (6-6, 268) and Lewan (6-7, 268), who has the best feet, still need to add bulk but could be in the mix at tackle.

Huyge said all three will “be definitely competing for starting spots next year,” so the line should be better as a whole.

“We’d like to think will be a good cornerstone,” he said.

Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.