Michigan offensive lineman Nathan Efobi enters his third year of college football with a legitimate chance to start for the first time in his career. Here is what to expect from him in 2025:
The Michigan Wolverines have some holes to fill along the offensive line heading into the 2025 season. With Giovanni El-Hadi shifting from the right side of the line back to his natural spot on the left side, a starting job is up for grabs at right guard.
One of the frontrunners to claim that spot coming out of spring ball is redshirt sophomore Nathan Efobi, an up-and-comer looking to nail down the first starting job of his young college career.
The story so far
Efobi came to Michigan as a member of the 2023 recruiting class. A four-star from the state of Georgia, he chose the Wolverines over other big time offers from Georgia, Miami, Penn State and others.
After redshirting as a true freshman, Efobi saw the field for the first time last season in a predominantly special teams role. He did see time at left guard in the game against Arkansas State, but he contributed on special teams in five other games against Oregon, Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio State, and in the bowl game against Alabama.
Outlook for 2025
Efobi repped with the starters this spring, taking a majority of his reps at right guard. Now that he’s been in the program for a few years, Efobi told the media this spring he’s ready to take another step forward.
“I’ve done my time here, seen (Zak) Zinter and all the guys before me. It’s time to break out,” he said. “I had a good spring. I’ve been feeling good. The team’s looking good. It’s all good.”
Position coach Grant Newsome had good things to say about Efobi this spring as well.
“He’s had a really good spring so far,” Newsome said . ”A really, really solid spring. And we’ve been very encouraged to see him kind of push to take that next step because that was a challenge for him of, hey, you’re no longer that young guy who’s just a freshman or a redshirt freshman. Take that next step and go compete. Put yourself in the mix for the starting lineup. And he’s done that so far this spring.”
Efobi has as good a chance as anyone to start at right guard. He will face some competition this summer and in fall camp — including from Ferris State grad transfer Lawrence Hattar, who was not on campus this spring — but if there were betting odds out there, Efobi would be the favorite to win the job as of now.