ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan offensive line made history for the Joe Moore award becoming the only team to win the award in consecutive years. They won the award in 2021 and then had three of the five starters return to gain the award again this year.

Three linemen were All-Big Ten first team in starting guards Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan while Olusegun Oluwatimi was on the coaches ballot first team. Oluwatimi then went on to win the Rimington award as the top center in the nation and then the Outland Trophy winner for the best interior lineman. Oluwatimi was Michigan’s first offensive lineman to win the Outland Trophy.

The Joe Moore award was started in 2015 to recognize the most outstanding offensive line in college football. Alabama has won the award twice in 2015 and 2020 but Michigan is the first for back-to-back years.

Two other linemen earned Big Ten awards as Ryan Hayes was second team and Karsen Barnhart honorable mention. It was the second year in a row that all five starters were named All-Big Team

The Michigan offense was seventh in the nation in scoring at 40.1 points per game and had the number six rushing attack at 243 yards per game. This line boosted the team’s run game to 5.96 sack-adjusted yards per carry and almost three rushing touchdowns a game. They also opened up holes for Blake Corum who had over 1,400 yards rushing, was a consensus All-American, and the Big Ten’s running back of the year and Chicago Tribune Silver Football winner. Donovan Edwards, who replaced the injured Corum, is close to 1,000 rushing yards with 872 yards and leads the nation at 7.5 yards per carry.

This offensive line has only given up 13 sacks in 13 games and allows J.J. McCarthy about 4.6 seconds to throw the ball which is the eighth-most time among qualified passers.