Kornacki: Graham Glasgow Now at Center of Wolverine Offense
10/6/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Graham Glasgow has become a force as the center on Michigan's offensive line.
Nobody knows him better than his younger brother, Ryan Glasgow, the Wolverines' starting nose tackle who has gone against him daily in practices and for their entire lives.
When asked where his brother, a fifth-year senior, has most improved, Ryan said: "His physicality has gotten ratcheted up a lot. I was sitting on the bench at the BYU game, watching him on the big screen, and I was seeing him drive the nose tackle off the ball three or four yards a play. I was really impressed.
"I think before, Graham was a guy who gives you a 100 percent all the time and moved some guys on occasion. But I think now he's really stepped it up with the physicality of how he's playing and really getting after defensive linemen."
Ryan said that his brother and Michigan State's Jack Allen, an All-American in 2014, are the two best centers he's faced.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said Glasgow consistently scores highest or among the highest when grading the performances of offensive linemen.
"I think I've made a lot of improvements mentally," said Graham. "And I've been very good at getting everybody on the same page, and trying to make sure that we give a play the best possible chance of succeeding.
"There's always room for improvement, but I think the physical part of it has been pretty good."
Glasgow, at 6-6 and 303 pounds, packs a wallop in one-on-one blocking. But he's also adept at pulling to the outside edge with a lead block. That's something guards do plenty of, and Glasgow has significant experience at that position.
He started at both guard positions in 2014 but moved to center after Jack Miller vacated the position in the spring by opting not to play in 2015. Glasgow started nine games at center in 2013, and that enabled him to make a seamless transition back to center this season.
"Even last year when I was starting at guard, I was taking some practice reps at center," said Glasgow, who has 14 starts at center and 15 at guard. "I figured I played that position pretty well, and that's what I came into this season wanting to play."
Centers must snap the ball before blocking, but Glasgow says that task doesn't hinder his effectiveness.
He said, "If you can snap and step, then you are at an advantage. Over-thinking the snap and your block can make it more difficult. But I think that playing center is easier than playing guard or tackle."
Glasgow has thrived under offensive coordinator Tim Drevno, who also coaches the linemen.
"What makes Coach Drevno such a great coach is how he can relate to us," said Glasgow. "He's so good at positive reinforcement, and he really knows how to speak to us to get us going when we are in a rut or we have a few off drives or an off play. He's always great at getting us on the same page and getting us going as a unit. He's got great intuition and is great at teaching us the techniques we need to be successful."
The offensive line is one of the most improved areas on the Michigan team, which has rebounded from a 5-7 season to start 4-1 this year.
"It's been a slow process," said Glasgow. "It's been us, each day, trying to lift as hard as we can, watching film as hard as we can and doing everything to the best of our abilities. We're workman-like, very blue collar. We try to be physical, and that's the only way you can run the ball in the Big Ten."
The Wolverines have cut their sacks allowed in half with one per game this season, and the rushing yardage average is up to 4.9 per attempt.
Michigan has had a touchdown run of 60-plus yards in three consecutive games. Ty Isaac went 76 yards against UNLV, before De'Veon Smith went 60 yards to score versus Brigham Young, and receiver Jehu Chesson took a 66-yard sweep to the end zone at Maryland.
"I love the big plays that we've been breaking off recently," said Glasgow. "That makes our job easier. Grinding out 14-play drives is awesome, and it wears down the defense, but coming off the field (with points) after three plays is a hell of a feeling."
The Wolverines are No. 18 in the Associated Press poll, and Glasgow is a big part of the success.
He's come far in the last seven months after being suspended by Harbaugh for a portion of spring practice for violating probation from an alcohol-related arrest in 2014.
So, his future at Michigan was in definite question. But after meeting on a regular basis with Harbaugh and fulfilling obligations since the second suspension, Glasgow was reinstated.
"He's tough on me," Glasgow said of Harbaugh. "But he understands. He's dealt with me in a way that I feel like a dad would deal with this issue. It's really helped me a lot.
"My ride, personally, hasn't been the smoothest of rides. There have been the ups and downs of Coach (Brady) Hoke (who recruited him). And there were the ups and downs of myself off the field. It's been tough, but it's definitely made me a better person, a better man and a better player."
And now he's playing his best football.
Glasgow defied the odds by becoming something special. He said he had plenty of scholarship offers at Mid-American Conference schools but decided to walk on at a Big Ten school. He took Ohio State's offer to become a "preferred" walk-on, but switched to the Wolverines after Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel resigned just prior to Glasgow's graduation from Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois.
"I didn't want to be left over from one coaching staff to another," said Glasgow. "I didn't know who my coach there would be. So, I said, 'You know what? I don't want to go there anymore.' I chose here. Michigan is a big school on the biggest stage and why not go for it?"
After spring practice in 2013, Graham earned a scholarship.
Ryan, who also walked on at Michigan, received his scholarship after the 2014 season. He's a senior with eligibility remaining in 2016.
So, it's all worked out well for the Brothers Glasgow.
And along the way, they've made each other better by giving one another their best effort in practices.
"At first, there was a lot of pride that went into it," said Graham. "But now, I accept that Ryan's a good player. I think Ryan's having a great season and I'd like to think that's kind of because of me."
Graham smiled and paused before adding, "That has been a big help for me and a big help for him. He's going to win sometimes. I'm going to win sometimes. It's like iron sharpening iron."
