If you want to play offensive line in college football, there’s probably no better place to do it than Ann Arbor. But it’s not for everyone.
Michigan football won two consecutive Joe Moore Awards, but had perhaps one of its best years at the position the following year when the Wolverines won the national championship. And although the Wolverines signed two offensive linemen to play the position in Avery Gach and Kaden Strayhorn, one player who likely would have ended up in Ann Arbor is now trending away.
The Wolverines were battling with Clemson to sign four-star offensive lineman Hardy Watts from the Dexter School in Brookline, Mass., who is scheduled to join the team in 2025. And after Clemson earned a 247Sports Crystal Ball, Michigan’s football team gained momentum and seemed destined to end up wearing maize and blue.
However, a turn of events occurred and all predictions for Michigan changed to those for Big Ten opponent Wisconsin.
Here’s how Watts stacks up when it comes to recruiting services:
| Stars | Over | position | Condition | |
| 247Sports Composite | 4 | 217 | 12 | 1 |
| On3 Industry Ranking | 4 | 251 | 16 | 2 |
| 247Sport | 4 | – | 16 | 1 |
| On 3 | 4 | 119 | 9 | 1 |
| Rivals | 4 | 178 | 6 | 1 |
| ESPN | 3 | – | 40 | 2 |
Watts also has offers from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Miami, Penn State, Tennessee and Texas A&M. He is 6’6″ and 295 pounds. He was originally expected to play for Clemson and then Michigan before Wisconsin reached out to him.
As for the linemen, Michigan is still in an excellent position with five-star player Andrew Babalola – although he plays more on the outside.
