2016 Season Countdown: #33 Patrick Kugler
Patrick Kugler (image via Bleacher Report)
Name: Patrick Kugler
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 303 lbs.
High school: Wexford (PA) North Allegheny
Position: Center
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #57
Last year: I ranked Kugler #29 and said he would be the backup center (LINK). He played in three games as a backup.
Entering his redshirt sophomore season last year, Kugler was suddenly thrust into a key backup role when Jack Miller ended his career prematurely. Luckily, Graham Glasgow stayed healthy and played well, so Kugler was not called upon in key situations to play on the offensive line. A frustrating shoulder injury has kept Kugler from adding strength and weight at times, and that lack of strength has been apparent over the past couple years when we have had a chance to see him. Along with too many mental mistakes, Kugler got pushed around quite a bit and struggled at the point of attack.
Seemingly to avoid putting Kugler on the field, the coaching staff has displaced junior left tackle Mason Cole to put him at center this year. Cole is already a two-year starter and will start somewhere this year, most likely at center. The coaching staff has kept alive the idea that Kugler could still win the spot, but it would take significant improvement over what we saw from him in the spring. I expect that Cole will keep the center spot, but left tackle Grant Newsome is the shakiest spot on the offensive line going into this season. If Newsome really struggles, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Cole move back to left tackle with Kugler stepping in at center. The other problem is that Michigan doesn’t have anyone behind Kugler. Freshmen Ben Bredeson and Michael Onwenu talked about potentially playing center in college, but a true freshman center would be . . . less than ideal.
Prediction: Backup center
