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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football got huge news last month when right tackle Jalen Mayfield reversed course on his previous opt-out decision as he decided to play his redshirt sophomore season after all.
Projected as an early-round draft pick even as an early departure, with Mayfield coming back, instead of having to replace all five starters from 2019’s offensive line, there’s at least one point of continuity. And another player who has starting experience for Michigan in right guard Andrew Stueber was happiest to see him return.
Just over a year ago, Stueber and Mayfield were embroiled in a fierce battle for that right tackle position, but the position was decided by default when Stueber tore his ACL last August near the beginning of fall camp. Because of what he saw from the other man battling for the same role, he knew Michigan was still going to be in good hands.
Now the two will line up next to each other, and from what he’s seen out of Mayfield, the third-year tackle hasn’t lost a step upon coming back to Ann Arbor.
“That was one upside – when I went down, I knew the offensive line was still gonna (be great) with Jalen,” “He’s a great player. Watching him throughout the year really grow and learn from the coaches, kinda fit into his own, was something really great to watch. I enjoyed watching film with him, help the coaching out, giving him points where I could. Was really great to see.
“When he made the decision to opt out, it came as a shock to us. But it was his decision. I was in a little bit of contact with him, kinda getting in his head, when he’s back, when he was thinking about coming back, maybe, when we got the season. But when he made his decision to come back, it all clicked. He’s coming back, he’s working, he’s working hard. It’s like he never skipped a beat. So it helps for our O-line chemistry. We’re all jelling well again. So it feels really good.”
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So how much were the players lobbying for Mayfield to give it a go for one more season, now that there’s a nine-game Big Ten schedule coming this fall?
Stueber says that they tried to give Mayfield some space, but they were still in his ear, letting him know how much it would mean to the team if he was to return.
“I wouldn’t say I put too much pressure on him,” Stueber said. “I’d say it was more just talking to him, seeing where his head was at. Obviously, it was his own personal decision, so I don’t want to get into his head. It was definitely a family-oriented decision and everything. But I was definitely talking to him. When he left, it was kind of a big shock, I felt like. But I was definitely in contact with him, talk with him. Never trying to give him too much pressure or anything. But it was definitely something where we were in talks and I just wanted the best for him. Definitely when the season came back, you heard the rumblings. You heard the rumors coming back. But it was great to see the decision that he was coming back and I can’t wait to play next to him.”
Perhaps an underrated component to all this is having two guys who did play the same position now lined up next to one another.
Stueber says that they have an instant chemistry, because they each know what the other is thinking and what that right tackle position needs. With Stueber now at guard, he can instinctively work alongside Mayfield, delivering their tandem assignment on each and every down.
Regardless, having two players with experience in big games is a big plus for a new-look Michigan offensive line.
“It definitely develops with every day practice, but it gets to the point where – because I also played right tackle – I know what he’s looking for in a guard in a double-block or whatever – a double team,” Stueber said. “So if it gets to the point where we run a play, we just have to say the number of the guy we’re working – we don’t have to say the block we’re doing or the technique we’re doing. We’re pretty much on the same page already. By watching film and getting on the same page, it’s already helped with our chemistry and the O-line as a whole.
“But yeah, he’s a veteran player. He has a whole season under his belt. He knows what he’s looking for, too. Both of us are pretty experienced players so it’s pretty easy to play next to him now.”
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