Meet the former Michigan football walk-on senior leading team's new-look offensive line

Michigan football's offensive line has fewer than 20 combined starts.

But the Wolverines don't believe the position group is necessarily inexperienced.

As U-M searches for the right combination of starters upfront, several veterans who previously haven't played much are making their presence known.

“That group is starting to kinda starting to come together in my eyes," offensive coordinator Josh Gattis said Wednesday. "Although for a lot of people, they assume that it’s new faces, but a lot of old heads. A lot of guys that have been in the building, that have been around, veteran-type players.

"... These guys are going into their third and fourth years in the program. They’re not your typical freshmen or first-year players that you’re looking to replace a lot of your offensive linemen with."

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Between 2017 and 2019, Cesar Ruiz, Michael Onwenu and Ben Bredeson accounted for most of the starts along the interior offensive line, while Jon Runyan Jr. had a two-year run at left tackle. Other players, meanwhile, patiently waited their turn.

That includes fifth-year senior Andrew Vastardis, a former walk-on who has caught Gattis' attention.

"First and foremost, the guy that I think has done an exceptional job leading our offensive line unit has been Andrew Vastardis," Gattis said. "I can’t say enough great things about Vastardis. He’s the guy that gets it going at the center position for us.

"Being able to replace your center is always an important piece. And we feel like we’ve got a very important piece there with Andrew Vastardis."

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After redshirting his freshman season, Vastardis appeared in 13 games over the past three seasons as a backup offensive lineman. He earned a scholarship prior to the 2019 season, and according to Gattis, "showed some flashes" last fall. As of now, he seems to be the heir apparent to Ruiz at center.

"I think just from a communication standpoint, that's definitely where his biggest role has been as a leader," said receiver Ronnie Bell. "When I'm lined up, I can always hear him making the correct points and whatnot on the line, getting everybody on the line, getting everything for them resolved for what they need to be doing."

And during a radio appearance on the 'Inside the Wolverines' show with Jon Jansen on Monday night, Vastardis was the first offensive lineman mentioned by coach Jim Harbaugh.

"Andrew Vastardis is really emerging as a starting offensive lineman," Harbaugh said. "A fifth-year player and a tremendous leader on the offensive line. I think that’s been tremendous. He’s an experienced player, but also could be a really fine player for us at center."

Other veterans Gattis and Harbaugh have mentioned include redshirt sophomore left tackle Ryan Hayes, who started two games in 2019 in place of an injured Runyan; redshirt junior Andrew Stueber, who started two games in 2018 and competed for the right tackle job last summer before tearing an ACL; and redshirt junior guard Chuck Filiaga, a former four-star prospect from the 2017 class. Gattis also named several younger players who have impressed him, all from the 2019 class:Karsen Barnhart, Trevor Keegan and Trente Jones.

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Because padded practices have not begun, there's still plenty of time before Michigan picks five starters. But Gattis believes the unit is already "starting to come together."

"You’re seeing the chemistry, camaraderie show itself," Gattis said. "That’s the key piece whenever you’re replacing a whole line. It’s not about how one individual can play. It’s about how all five can play together. And so that’s the biggest thing that we’ve been trying to create is an atmosphere where they’re playing closely together and able to be on the same page.”

Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang. Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football's O-line now led by little-known former walk-on