2 weeks Ago
ANN ARBOR – Michigan junior offensive lineman Nathan Efobi could have become frustrated. A four-star recruit out of South Forsyth High in Georgia, he only played two offensive snaps over his first two seasons in Ann Arbor, both coming late in games with starters on the bench. As a true freshman, Efobi sat behind all-Big Ten guards Trevor Keegan and Zak Zinter.
Last season, senior Giovanni El-Hadi and graduate transfer Josh Priebe cemented themselves as the starting guards. But the 6-foot-3, 307-pounder said he kept his head down and continued to work behind the scenes. “I really take it as a blessing, because I know other people see it as like, ‘Oh, I should have played freshman year,’ but I was next to guys that are in the league right now,” Efobi said this week.
“I’m just happy I got to work with them, take pieces of their game and use it right now. “I think it was necessary. I think if I would have played freshman year, I probably wouldn’t have been ready.
It would have looked like I wasn’t good, but I waited, did my time, got better in the shadows, and now people are going to see I am who I say I am.” “I’〽️ in control of 〽️y destiny, never in doubt” #goblue #Wolverines @Coach_SMoore @CoachJim4UM @CoachMorookian @DavidOjabo @Coach__Hammy @SFHS_Football pic.twitter.
com/W6fW88x0Rp There are still over four months until Michigan’s 2025 season opener, but Efobi has emerged as a projected starter at right guard this spring. “It’s time to break out,” he said. “Had a good spring, been feeling good, team’s looking good.
It’s all good.” Efobi said he has been focusing on playing more violent – a trait he noticed the entire line possessed during the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship season. “He’s had a really good spring so far,” offensive line coach Grant Newsome said earlier this spring.
“A really, really solid spring. We’ve been very encouraged to see him kind of push to take that next step because that was a challenge for him of, ‘Hey, you’re no longer that young guy who’s just a freshman or a redshirt freshman. Take that next step and go compete.
Put yourself in the mix for the starting lineup.’ He’s done that.” Saturday will be another opportunity for Efobi to showcase himself in the public eye.
He is on team Blue for the annual spring game, with a steak dinner on the line. “I need that steak,” Efobi said. “People who lose, they deserve the hot dogs.
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