In the Wolverines’ ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama, Evan Link and Andrew Sprague helped show why Michigan’s offensive line is set to dominate college football for years to come:
With left tackle Myles Hinton off to the 2025 NFL Draft , there are understandable concerns and questions about how the Michigan Wolverines would replace their most experienced offensive lineman.
However, Michigan’s ReliaQuest Bowl victory over Alabama showcased the future of the position is in good hands with rising stars Andrew Sprague and Evan Link.
Sprague entered the bowl game as a relatively unknown to most fans. The freshman had appeared in just three games all season, with none of that coming during meaningful game time. However, thrust into the starting lineup against Alabama’s vaunted defensive front at right tackle, he proved himself to be a stud in the making.
Logging 67 snaps in his first career start, Sprague earned a 63.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), the highest on the day among Michigan’s offensive linemen. Additionally, his 63.2 run blocking grade led the team and played a crucial role in fellow true freshman Jordan Marshall’s 100-yard rushing performance.
“When you rush for over 100 yards against Alabama, it’s good,” head coach Sherrone Moore said on the offensive line after the game. “In protection, because those are things that you can see the most without the detail, they did pretty good. As far as the run game, there’s things we’ve always got to clean up, but it felt like we were getting the movement necessary to get the runs going. When you have those types of drives when you’re leaning on people and you’re getting five-minute drives, it means those guys up front are doing a good job.”
The ReliaQuest Bowl was more than a glimpse of Sprague’s potential — it was a statement for the future of the group as a whole. With his combination of size, athleticism and technical skill, Sprague is poised to be a cornerstone of Michigan’s offensive line for years to come.
Unlike Sprague, redshirt freshman Evan Link started for most of the season. However, his early struggles in the first five games led to a benching as he worked through growing pains as a first-year starter. An injury to Andrew Gentry brought Link back into the fold late in the season, and his performance against Ohio State reminded everyone why he earned the starting job in the first place.
Link’s versatility and resilience were on full display when he was tasked with starting at left tackle in the ReliaQuest Bowl following Hinton’s departure. Going up against Alabama’s ferocious defensive front, Link delivered a solid performance by protecting quarterback Davis Warren’s blind side and earning a team-high pass blocking grade of 87.2.
“Evan’s been great,” Moore said prior to the game. “He switched in fall camp from the position where he naturally was at and he’s done a really good job … He played really good (against Ohio State) and just had a really good month of prep, and excited for him and what he’s going to do.”
Link’s path hasn’t been easy, but his development and ability to rise to the occasion in high pressure situations bode well for Michigan’s offensive line.
The performances of Sprague and Link not only secured a hard-fought 19-13 win over Alabama, but also provided a glimpse into the future of Michigan’s offensive line. With veteran leadership on the interior from Giovanni El-Hadi and Greg Crippen, the Wolverines’ line will remain formidable even as younger players take on larger roles.
“(We want to) keep showing what we have, keep showing what we can do,” El-Hadi said prior to the bowl game. “Everybody in a new position, got new people playing, see what they can do, so for next year it’s a great start.”
Sprague’s emergence and Link’s continued growth are encouraging signs for the future. Both players have the potential to anchor Michigan’s offensive line for multiple years, continuing the tradition of excellence at the position that has defined the program.