Michigan OL Zak Zinter Suffers Scary Leg Injury vs. Ohio State

Michigan's Zak Zinter undergoes successful surgery on leg: What his absence means for Wolverines - The Athletic

It looks like the Wolverines will have to finish Saturday’s rivalry game without their best offensive lineman.

Michigan offensive lineman Zak Zinter appeared to suffer a serious leg injury during Saturday’s game against Ohio State.

Zinter sustained the scary injury in the third quarter against the Wolverines’ fiercest rival, and had to be carted off the field after the entire Michigan team had left the sideline to gather around him.

He got his leg rolled up on in an awkward way, and there’s a reason the Fox Sports broadcast opted not to show the replay, and it’s the same reason we won’t show it here.

The best blocker on Michigan’s dominant offensive line, Zinter is also one of the top interior offensive linemen in the 2024 NFL Draft class. Here’s hoping his injury is less serious than it looked, and that he’s able to make a full recovery as soon as possible.

Zak Zinter - Football - University of Michigan Athletics

J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Zak Zinter named consensus First-Team All-Big Ten offensive performers

Announced by the conference on Wednesday afternoon, Michigan Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, tight end Colston Loveland, left tackle LaDarius Henderson, center Drake Nugent and right guard Zak Zinter and were named as All-Big Ten First-Team offensive performers.

McCarthy, Corum, Zinter and Nugent were all consensus First-Teamers, while Loveland and Henderson were Second-Teamers, according to the media.

J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, Zak Zinter named consensus First-Team All-Big Ten offensive performers - Maize n Brew

McCarthy has been, without a doubt, Michigan’s MVP this season. He’s 25-1 as a starter in Ann Arbor, with his only loss being last year in the College Football Playoff to TCU. This year, McCarthy has completed 191-of-257 throws (74.3 percent) for 2,483 yards, 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He also rushed the ball for 181 yards and three touchdowns.

Corum has had a great senior season, running for 976 yards (4.8 average per rush) and a school-record 22 touchdowns. He also garnered an additional 72 yards on 11 receptions. He is without a doubt one of the greatest running backs in school history — he’s just two rushing scores away from tying Anthony Thomas’ school-record 55 career rushing touchdowns — so it’s good to see him recognized for his talent and hard work this season.

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Zinter has been a workhorse at the right guard position ever since his true freshman season in 2020, having played in 45 games during his career. He was a big part of the back-to-back Joe Moore Award-winning offensive lines, and was also a consensus Big Ten First-Team selection last year. Unfortunately, he will be out the rest of the season after suffering a broken tibia and fibula in The Game last Saturday. He is expected to be a first or second day choice in this spring’s NFL Draft.

Loveland has been one of McCarthy’s go-to weapons this season. The sophomore has compiled 37 catches for 550 yards and four touchdowns. He is also vastly improved as a blocker, and was recently called “our version of Travis Kelce” by head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Henderson and Nugent have been great additions via the transfer portal, replacing Ryan Hayes and Olu Oluwatimi, respectively, from last year’s Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line. Nugent has started every game at center this season, while Henderson was rotating in and out early in the season before solidifying his spot.

Wolverines who made the Second-Team offense include wide receiver Roman Wilson, left guard Trevor Keegan, right tackle Karsen Barnhart. Additionally, wide receiver Cornelius Johnson and tight end AJ Narner were named as Honorable Mentions.