In the Trenches: Vastardis Has Sights Set on Med School After Sixth Season
3/11/2021 8:39:00 AM | Football, Features
In this week's In the Trenches podcast, Jon Jansen sits down with offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis to discuss his opportunity to play a sixth year at Michigan, his early impressions of the offensive line group, the energy around the program, and expectations for the team in 2021.
By Brian Boesch
Football is not forever, no matter how high someone climbs. However, University of Michigan offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis is delaying the inevitable by returning to the program for a sixth season in 2021. The draw of football is enough for the intelligent Vastardis, who has his sights set on medical school once he takes off the pads for good.
The Ashburn, Va., native has made the most of his time in the classroom at Michigan. After graduating from the School of Kinesiology with a degree in movement science, Vastardis transitioned to the physiology master's program, which he will finish this spring. In the upcoming school year, Vastardis will pursue another master's degree, apply for medical school, and, of course, wear the winged helmet.
"[Football] is not something you can come back to down the road, so I want to make the most of everything that I have in front of me," Vastardis said on this week's In the Trenches podcast. "This place has been home, and they offered me the opportunity to stay one more year, and I'm jumping all over it."
Vastardis soared up the depth chart last season, not just earning a starting spot at center but a captain role. He took advantage of the four openings on the offensive line after Ben Bredeson, Michael Onwenu, Cesar Ruiz and Jon Runyan heard their names called in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2020 season was unlike any in the history of college football, which has given Vastardis a chance to reflect for this season and beyond, in football and in life.
"This whole ordeal has been a learning experience for everybody -- sports, non-sports, every field, every facet," Vastardis said. "The main thing I think I've taken away from it is just never take anything for granted ... just be grateful for the opportunities you have and go all out with them."
Many Wolverines will have opportunities to compete for a starting spot on the offensive line for 2021. With Jalen Mayfield heading to the NFL this offseason, the entirety of the dominant offensive line from 2019 is no longer with the program. As a result, new offensive line coach Sherrone Moore will have to shape an offensive line group deep with players who have some experience, but short on players who have a wealth of starts. Vastardis is confident in the coach and the players around him.
"We knew what we were getting with him -- a lot of energy," Vastardis said about Moore, who was the team's tight ends coach over the previous three seasons. "The atmosphere he's been creating on the O-line, it's just energy, energy, energy, and everyone is feeding off it."
That energy, plus several legitimate position battles, will create a dynamic atmosphere throughout spring practice and into fall camp. Even though the starting five will not be clear for months, Vastardis feels great about the potential for this season.
"There's really nothing set in stone. Everyone is competing," Vastardis continued. "However it shakes down, I know I'll trust the guy next to me because we have some good mojo together."
