Name: Evan Link
Height: 6'6"
Weight: 313 lbs.
High school: Washington (DC) Gonzaga
Position: Offensive tackle/offensive guard
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #71
Last year: I ranked Link #18 and said he would be the starting left tackle (LINK). He started seven games at left tackle.
TTB Rating: 72
Evan Link had a much better season in 2025 than he did in 2024, and that was reflected in my countdown post from last year. As a redshirt freshman in Kirk Campbell's lone season as offensive coordinator, Link was thrust into the starting right tackle role and he looked stiff and unsure of himself. A former high school left tackle, he looked awkward and got put on his butt several times. Some may not believe it, but it's a whole different world at right tackle, where the footwork, hand placement, etc. are completely opposite. Some might say it's the same thing but just in reverse, so it's no big deal, and to that I would say . . . okay, take a right-handed batter or a right-handed first baseman and then in one off-season when he's 20 years old, make him bat or field left-handed. The baseball example is more dramatic, but it's not irrelevant.
Link started the first seven games at left tackle, and he looked pretty solid. He wasn't blowing people off the ball, but he was fine. And "fine" was much better than "horrid" in 2024. And then just when Link was settling in, he suffered a leg injury that caused him to miss the rest of the year.
Now Michigan has a new coaching staff, and while Link was gone, Blake Frazier got some experience at left tackle. Furthermore, Andrew Babalola - who suffered an ACL tear during camp in 2025 - is now healthy and competing at left tackle. Link has reportedly been getting reps at left tackle this fall, but it appears that Frazier will win that spot and Link will end up starting at left guard. Regardless, I think Link is one of Michigan's top five linemen, so I think new offensive line coach Jim Harding will slot him in somewhere as a starter. The nice thing is that the Wolverines have a couple players like Nate Efobi, Brady Norton, and Avery Gach who all sound like they're pushing for playing time, so whoever loses the right guard job should be a decent backup option.
Prediction: Starting left guard
Link did improve last year, but he was historically bad in 2o24, so that should be considered
ReplyDeleteAgainst OU, he reverted back to turnstile in pass pro and ineffective at run blocking
Guard is a whole new position, where DTs will try to get under his pads. Will Link improve again? Maybe. In Harding we must trust
"In Harding we trust"
DeleteThis will be one of the interesting things about this season: how the offensive line plays as a unit, and how the individual players look. It's a little unfair to compare this year to last in that the players are a year older. But still, if there's improvement as a unit, then we can thank Harding, and be glad he's in place after Newsome moved on.
That photo is great ... can you imagine being #10 there, which I assume is a linebacker or a safety, and seeing that hulk of a man coming out to block? Don't bother trying to engage him ... get around him if you can in pursuit of the ball carrier.
ReplyDeleteI just feel a ton of enthusiasm about Link finding a home at LG and performing at an all conference level as a senior. Thunder mentions some challenges about position shifts on the OL and obviously an all new coaching staff can take time to implement everything, so maybe it's not till next year. But my guess is Link is more ready than most to make a leap given his extensive playing time the last 2 years. He's taken his lumps yeah, but he probably should have been working in as a backup at OG in an ideal world. I choose to see it as a good sign that the last staff (albeit largely incompetent) thought he had enough talent to be out there at a young age, despite reasonably solid alternatives available.
ReplyDeleteThe ongoing competition at OG is an eye of the beholder thing -- maybe Link not having separated is concerning and he's just going to remain a relatively mediocre starter -- and maybe Michigan just has a ton of depth. Guess we'll see. But preseason me is optimistic.
I think it's somewhat telling that Link has been competing at left tackle in fall camp with Babalola and Frazier. I still think he has potential at tackle if needed, and Jim Harding probably wouldn't be repping him there if he thought Link was incapable of playing tackle.
DeleteNo doubt. He has been starting at OT for the last 2 years it would be weird if he didn't at least get an opportunity there before moving inside. Just seems optimal for the '26 team if he can slide inside -- and perhaps for him too.
DeleteI would imagine spring and fall ball have plenty of rotations going on … injuries happen, and a guy like Link could easily be forced outside. Norton could be forced to play Center. Babaloa could replace a Guard
DeleteMove them around and get them ready for a long season