Michigan Football Predicted To Win Two Majors Awards In 2023
In 2022, Michigan football had a couple of national awards awarded to the program. The Wolverines had the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line for the second year in a row, and center Olu Oluwatimi was the Outland Trophy winner for being the best interior lineman in the country.
Heading into 2023, Michigan returns 80% of its production from last year, which means a ton of talent will be on the field this fall. There is a good chance the Wolverines have at least one national award coming their way after the season is over.
Pro Football Focus wrote an article predicting every major award winner in 2023.
PFF predicts Michigan running back Blake Corum as being a Heisman finalist -- but losing to Florida State QB Jordan Travis. However, they predict Corum winning the Doak Walker Award for being the best running back in the country.
Photo by: Christopher Breiler
DOAK WALKER AWARD (BEST RUNNING BACK)
Winner: Blake Corum, Michigan Wolverines
Corum’s 96.2 grade in 2022 led all players in college football and was the highest-graded season PFF has ever seen from a Power Five player.
Corum is easily the best running back in college football. The only downside to picking him is the fact that Michigan has another top-10 back in Donovan Edwards, who the Wolverines may use more in order to preserve Corum’s health.
The other major award predicted to go Michigan's way is being awarded the Joe Moore Award for the third straight season. The Wolverines were the first team to win the award twice, which is a feat in itself, but if Michigan could win it three straight years -- that's massive.
Photo by: Christopher Breiler
JOE MOORE AWARD (BEST OFFENSIVE LINE)
Winner: Michigan Wolverines
Last season, Michigan became the first school to win two consecutive Joe Moore Awards, given to the nation’s best offensive line. The Wolverines should be the favorites to three-peat in 2023.
Zak Zinter is back at right guard and is my No. 3 interior offensive lineman in the country. The senior was the second-most-valuable Power Five guard last season, according to PFF’s wins above average metric. Drake Nugent transfers in from Stanford and is one of the best centers in the nation. His 84.1 run-blocking grade last year ranked third among FBS centers.
Michigan also returns another two starters in left guard Trevor Keegan and right tackle Karsen Barnhart. Meanwhile, Arizona State transfer LaDarius Henderson is the favorite to take over at left tackle for the departed Ryan Hayes. Over the past two seasons, Henderson’s 2.0% pressure rate allowed ranked fifth among Pac-12 guards.
As for depth, the Wolverines brought in Stanford tackle Myles Hinton, who placed fourth among Power Five tackles in 2022 with a 1.8% pressure rate allowed. Trente Jones also returns and ranked sixth among Big Ten tackles last season with a 78.1 grade.
A few other Michigan players were listed as finalists.
Center Drake Nugent is predicted to be a Rimington Trophy finalist and cornerback Will Johnson was predicted as a Jim Thorpe A
