Michigan Football Is A Semifinalist For The Joe Moore Award

The Wolverines are back in the running for the Joe Moore Award

The Michigan football offensive line has won the Joe Moore Award back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022. The Wolverines are the first team to ever win the award two times in a row.

Could Michigan make it three times?

On Tuesday, the Joe More Award committee named their 12 semifinalists and the Wolverines O-line is the lone Big Ten team competing for the trophy. 

The 12 semifinal teams are: Florida State, Georgia, Kansas State, LSU, Michigan, Missouri, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. 

Michigan O-line is back in the running for the Joe Moore Award / Photo: Christopher Breiler

The Wolverines may not have the same rushing attack as they had the previous two years, but Michigan is starting to hit its stride on the ground. The Wolverines just got done rushing for 227 yards on the ground against a top Penn State run defense. Michigan ran the ball 32 consecutive times to beat the Nittany Lions in the second half. 

Running back Blake Corum has run in 18 touchdowns this season behind the Wolverines' dominant O-line. Corum leads the country in rushing touchdowns and the next closest is at 15 scores. 

Here are some tidbits from the press release:

• Blocks for a top-10 scoring offense and the nation's top scorer in Blake Corum.
• Yielded 12 sacks in 10 games, 16th nationally, protecting the nation's No. 2 quarterback in completion percentage and passer rating.
• Allowing 3.6 negative plays per game, 5th nationally, with all five starters at 400-plus snaps including four at 500-plus snaps.
• Helped U-M convert 42-of-47 red zone chances with 36 touchdowns.
• Interior trio combined for one sack, 16 pressures allowed on 1,609 pass-blocking snaps.

• What the committee is saying: “They’ve been consistent all season long. They see it so well and move as one. Very solid technique and rarely if ever on the ground. Work their combos effortlessly and pick up and sort through trash as well as anyone in the country. Definitely in the mix to win the whole dang thing again. Remarkable how consistent this run has been for them.”