Offensive line coach Grant Newsome sees a lot of potential in Cal Poly transfer Brady Norton. In fact, Norton reminds Newsome of 2 former All-Big Ten OL at Michigan:
Even though he may not be the most physically imposing offensive lineman — standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 275 pounds — Michigan Wolverines offensive line coach Grant Newsome sees a lot of potential in Cal Poly transfer Brady Norton.
In a press conference on Monday, Newsome compared Norton to a pair of former standout players at Michigan that were also shorter than the average offensive lineman: Mason Cole and Jon Runyan Jr.
“Brady has been working at tackle and guard, and he’s given us a lot of position flexibility,” Newsome said. “He’s not the tallest guy, but he reminds me a lot of Mason Cole or Jon Runyan Jr. He’s just a really, really good football player.”
Cole and Runyan Jr. are both 6-foot-4, and both of them were able to play offensive tackle at a high level at points during their college careers. Despite their shorter stature, both earned All-Conference honors in the Big Ten and were selected in the NFL Draft .
What made Cole and Runyan Jr. set themselves apart when they were in Ann Arbor was their attention to detail and intelligence. Those two things helped them develop into All-Big Ten performers. Norton is very much built like Cole and Runyan Jr., and his technical proficiency and versatility make him a valuable asset like those two.
“Brady has been a great addition. He’s very smart, loves ball and has good experience,” Newsome said. “Although (his experience) was at a lower level, you haven’t seen any struggle that you wonder if it’s going to be too fast for him. You haven’t seen that at all.”
Despite his relatively modest size, Newsome said Norton is one of the strongest players on the team, and his ability to play multiple positions has already made a positive impact on the unit. That versatility could lead to playing time this year.
Norton was dominant at Cal Poly last season, not allowing any sacks or quarterback hits in 444 pass-blocking snaps. The California native was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the entire FCS in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
“He’s doing really, really well, and he’s another guy who’s going to put himself in that mix to be one of the best five,” Newsome said. “It’s been awesome to see that from him. I think he’s already made our room better.”
Newsome also believes Norton’s unique blend of experience and versatility give him an opportunity to earn a starting spot. If the comparison to Cole and Runyan Jr. is truly accurate, Norton could be prepared to make a meaningful impact in 2025.
Other young guys also performing well
In addition to Norton, Nate Efobi and Jake Guarnera are also impressing so far this spring. Efobi played limited snaps at left guard as a sophomore, while Guarnera only appeared on special teams as a true freshman in 2024. However, both are garnering attention and praise from the coaching staff this spring.
“In terms of guys who have stepped up, I think Nate Efobi is at the top of that list. Jake Guarnera is playing really good ball as well,” Newsome said. “The nice thing about having a younger group is there’s a lot of reps and moving guys around.”
There’s still a long way to go until the regular season kicks off, so nothing is set in stone. However, it appears the Wolverines are satisfied with the players they have and how they are developing.