Name: Giovanni El-Hadi
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 318 lbs.
High school: Sterling Heights (MI) Stevenson
Position: Offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #58
Last year: I ranked El-Hadi #92 and said he would redshirt (LINK). He played in one game.
TTB Rating: 84
El-Hadi came into Michigan in 2021 with a need to improve some of his technique and get his body right. He had some bad weight even at last year's listed weight of 305, and though he's now listed at 318 pounds, I'm guessing he looks better now. Luckily, Michigan didn't really need any true freshmen to contribute much on the line last season, so any experience they got - and El-Hadi did play against Northern Illinois - was a chance to get them live reps and experience.
Michigan returns its interior linemen in 2022, except for center Andrew Vastardis - who was replaced by transfer Olu Oluwatimi - and backup guard Nolan Rumler. So there's not much room to move up the depth chart in 2022, but El-Hadi was a top-100 prospect whom I have high hopes for in the future. Coincidentally, his placement in the countdown coincides with his jersey number. At #58 he won't be a key piece of this year's offensive line, but he should see some reps in a few games and may be a guy that can work into the field goal/extra point unit, too.
Prediction: Backup offensive guard
Let him marinate, and hope he's worth the wait!
ReplyDeleteAny potential to shift outside? Seems like the depth chart projections and recruiting are trending towards being interior-heavy.
ReplyDeleteWhat recruiting?
DeleteI don't think it's out of the question for El-Hadi to play tackle, but I don't think that's his long-term future.
Delete