OL Jake Guarnera’s path to Michigan Football, outlook for 2026
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
For the Michigan Wolverines to achieve their goals in 2026, the offensive line must be much better than it was a year ago. New head coach Kyle Whittingham and longtime offensive line coach Jim Harding have a history of developing talent on the line, and they enter a room with more high school-level talent than they have ever seen in their careers.
Looking to veterans to set the standard, Whittingham has already called on center Jake Guarnera to be a difference-maker this fall. Here’s everything to know about the redshirt sophomore as he gets ready to be a focal point of the offensive line this fall.
The story so far
Guarnera came to Ann Arbor as a consensus three-star prospect in the 2023 class. While he did redshirt as a freshman, Guarnera did see some special teams snaps during the regular season and in the ReliaQuest Bowl win over Alabama.
That carried into a sophomore campaign where he appeared in all 13 games, starting 10 on the offensive line. For a time period, Guarnera would rotate in at center with Greg Crippen, who eventually won the starting role. It wasn’t until Week 4 that Guarnera began starting at right guard, holding his ground there for the remainder of the season. In his first season as a starter, he earned All-Big Ten honorable mention, setting the stage for what could be a prolonged tenure on the Michigan offensive line.
There was a brief period when Guarnera was in the transfer portal after the departure of Sherrone Moore. But when he found out that Whittingham would be taking over as head coach and would be bringing Harding with him, it was an easy decision for him to return.
“With Coach Harding, obviously you see the success he had last year with the two tackles, Caleb (Lomu) and Spencer (Fano), and just how they’re going to fare in the draft this year,” Guarnera said this spring. “I wanted to play for a coach that gets guys that are not as highly rated — I think he said he only had six to eight four-stars ever recruited — and to have two first-rounders this year speaks to his development. That’s someone I want to play for.”
Outlook for 2026
It didn’t take long for Whittingham to declare Guarnera a starter this season, but not at the right guard position that he was at last year.
“Yeah, he’s the center,” Whittingham told the media in April. “He’s had a terrific spring and really, probably the leader of that offensive line is Jake.”
Back to his roots, Guarnera will return to center this season for the Wolverines and anchor the unit. PFF gave him his flowers as well, stating he was one of the Top-10 offensive guards returning to college football in 2026. Michigan could have one of the best centers in college football, which will be key to the interior run-heavy style the team is expected to lean on.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos