Tag: Andrew Vastardis

2019 Season Countdown: #79 Andrew Vastardis

Name: Andrew Vastardis
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 317 lbs.
High school: Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge
Position: Offensive guard/center
Class: Redshirt junior
Jersey number: #68
Last year: I ranked Vastardis #87 and said he would be a backup center (LINK). He played in six games.
TTB Rating: N/A

Vastardis was a well regarded player coming out of high school a few years ago. A three-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball), he spurned some lower level scholarship offers to make a go of it at Michigan. So far it has turned out fairly well for him. He played in six games in 2018 at center and guard, along with special teams.

I still don’t see a big need for Vastardis going into 2019. Cesar Ruiz is entrenched as the team’s starting center, and Stephen Spanellis is Ruiz’s backup. Jess Speight is also a capable walk-on center, so Vastardis’s value is diminished a little bit, and there are a few solid guard options. Vastardis should be a special teams contributor and will see some snaps on offense.

Prediction: Backup center/guard

2018 Season Countdown: #87 Andrew Vastardis

This is a picture from high school, but I like it. (image via LoCoSports)

Name: Andrew Vastardis
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge
Position: Center
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #63
Last year: I ranked Vastardis #64 and said he would be a backup offensive guard (LINK). He played on special teams.

Vastardis entered last off-season with a chance to play a backup role as an offensive guard or center. A naturally large gentleman, he turned down an opportunity to play at a lower-level program (Old Dominion) in order to walk on at Michigan. So far that decision has been rewarded with special teams play going into his third season on campus. A lack of lateral mobility and height may relegate him to the center position, where high school All-American Cesar Ruiz currently holds the job. The #2 guy on the depth chart looks to be Stephen Spanellis, who converted from offensive guard last year and played center in the Outback Bowl. That means Vastardis is probably #3 on the depth chart to snap the ball.

Prediction: Backup center

2017 Season Countdown: #64 Andrew Vastardis

Vastardis, Bredeson, Runyan, and Ulizio (L to R, image via Detroit News)

Name: Andrew Vastardis
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 305 lbs.
High school: Ashburn (VA) Stone Bridge
Position: Center/offensive guard
Class: Redshirt freshman
Jersey number: #68
Last year: I did not rank Vastardis. He redshirted.
TTB Rating: N/A

Vastardis was a preferred walk-on who arrived on campus last year. He’s a block of granite. And he moves like one, too. But when you’re an interior lineman, sometimes that can work. He saw a fair amount of time in the spring game, and he acquitted himself well. Michigan has some decent options on the inside, and things seem to be fairly settled. The top four guys on the interior appear to be Ben Bredeson, Patrick Kugler, Michael Onwenu, and Cesar Ruiz, and I don’t think Vastardis will beat out any of them. However, he could be an injury replacement for one of them, and he will probably get some chances to hone his skills in mop-up time.

Prediction: Backup offensive guard