Lewan Gets First Big House Game Experience

The massive tackle of the future for the Wolverines spent all of 2009 on the sidelines as he red-shirted his freshman year. On Saturday, April 17th, 2010, Lewan got his first action in the Big House.

Taylor Lewan, Michigan’s future at left tackle, doesn’t look like a man who could be pushed around, or, have any fears whatsoever. But the 6’8”, 283 pounder guarding the blind side felt some of those nerves when he got the chance to play at the Big House for the first time in his career.

“At first I was pretty nervous because I never played in the Big House before,” Lewan told GoBlueWolverine. “But as soon as I started getting in it, it felt like a regular practice with a bunch of people there. I feel like I did pretty well. I feel like I got a lot of work in. I feel like I did not come off the field at all, which is almost a good thing. So at the end of the day, I felt really good.”

Much of the noise coming from the offensive line is just how much of a push Lewan is making to crack into the starting five when the season’s first tilt against Connecticut comes to be. Lewan may have already sealed that with a solid spring in which he gained a lot of time with the first string when upper classmen Perry Dorrenstein was sidelined with a back injury.

“After Perry Dorrestein got hurt, I’ve been running with the ones, starting with the ones. I feel like if I keep progressing, doing what I’m doing, I do not see why I do not play a lot this year. I've got to keep going as a player.”

As he progresses, it’s hard not to draw parallels to another left tackle who wore the no. 77 jersey, Jake Long. When Lewan had originally committed to Michigan, much was made of the striking resemblance between he and Long, both in the way they play the game and their looks as well.

“It’s rough. The guys give me a hard time all about it. Those are big shoes to fill and I’m going to try to do the best I can. Try to get as much extra work as possible and try to live up to those expectations for all Michigan Nation.”

As Lewan fills those shoes, the 2010 season awaits, and while Lewan isn’t ready to start making predictions, he does envision a far better year for the Maize and Blue in 2010.

“I do not even know if I’m allowed to say. I do not even know what I’m allowed to say right now. I’m going to play as hard as we can. We’re going to be real good.”