The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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38 THE WOLVERINE SEPTEMBER 2017 nities a few years ago, eventually go- ing to the Detroit Lions in the third round and starting a few NFL games in 2016 at guard and center after do- ing both at U-M. Playing multiple positions at the college level is a challenge Cole em- braces. "The biggest thing is the mental part of the game," he said. "As a high school kid, there's not much to the game. You just go out there and play football. "In college, the playbook is 20 times bigger, and everything is en- hanced. There's so much you've got to know. … You have to learn the game inside and out. It's the biggest curve for a young kid going into col- lege football." There were considerations to move him back to left tackle last season once sophomore Grant Newsome went down with a season-ending (and career-threatening) knee in- jury, but Cole proved too valuable to move. Sporting News analysts thought highly enough of him this year to name him a second-team preseason All-American despite not knowing which position he'd play. He's also NFLDraftScout.com's No. 1 draftable center in the preseason, though he's likely going to end up back at left tackle this fall. With the addition of tackles and tight ends coach Greg Frey, two great mentors are now tutoring him on both positions. "It's been really good," Cole said. "The big thing about that is having two offensive line minds working to- gether to come up with the best tech- nique, the best strategy. The more tools you have in your bag, the better you'll be. It's another set of eyes, an- other mind to help coach you. That will make you so much better." LEADING THE YOUNG When it comes to directing traffic on the field, the younger guys turn to Cole more than anyone. He's seen it all, done it all and is on pace to set Michigan's all-time record for games started in a career — he'll have 51 if he starts every contest this year, plus a bowl game. He's also one of the nastiest line- men U-M has when he gets moving. At 6-5, 305 pounds — and "in the best shape of my life," he said — he's the guy fifth-year senior linebacker Mike McCray said he'd least like to see coming at him with a running start. " S o m e t h i n g C o a c h D r e v n o preaches to us is that whenever you pull, just show America how fast you are," Cole said. "That's what he says every time someone's pulling. That's the big- gest thing, getting out in space and running. If you can get on top of a guy before he gets to you, you're in good shape." It's one of the reasons he and his linemates put in extra conditioning work this offseason. Many of the faces are different, Cole noted, but the locker room demeanor isn't. There are just 40 19-year-olds instead of 40 23-year-olds — "a little younger, but still the same," he explained. "There are so many young, tal- ented guys," Cole continued. "These past recruiting classes being what they were, it's hard not to be confi- dent with the guys we have coming up. Being able to watch them work now, getting to work and being able to play now … I can't wait to see it." For all of them, it's not just about finishing games, but a season, Cole added. The Wolverines had a chance to put both Iowa and OSU away down the stretch last year with one more first down, but failed. "Looking back, we struggled running the ball, especially late in games," he said. "That's always our focus. We need to run the ball well when it really matters. Going into fall camp, that will be a focus." The past is in the past, he added, the failures forgotten. It's a new year, and with it a new opportunity for a revamped line to prove itself. He plans to lead them every step of the way. "Throughout the summer, the anticipation has been building and building and building. Now, it's finally here," Cole said. "The way the season ended last year certainly added to that, too. Now, it's time to redeem ourselves." ❏ Cole has been named a preseason All-American by Sporting News (second team), Lindy's (second), Phil Steele's (second), Street & Smith's (second) and Athlon Sports (third). PHOTO BY PER KJELDSEN