 At Michigan, he redshirted as a true Freshman and then started the following year. When the team transitioned from head coach Lloyd Carr to Rich Rodriguez during his redshirt sophomore season, he became one of the few experienced players to endure the change. He has since anchored the offensive line composed of less experienced players. He was honored as the 2008 Michigan Wolverines football team's best offensive lineman as a redshirt sophomore before being nationally recognized as a Lombardi Award watchlist candidate in 2009. He was selected as a 2009 and 2010 All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention. He was a 2010 Outland Trophy watch list candidate.
