I think people exaggerate just how much he did with the OL. He "oversaw" things with his coaches and surely helped then being younger guys, but I would bet you he'd agree that more credit needs to go to them. They ran the position group. They 100% were the primary recruiters that's for sure. But let's also not forget that a talent increase was needed above all else. Body type and talent level. And Empey actually recruited a bunch of those guys. Empey's sion would be that talented regardless. Because he's Mike's son. Mike identified the Barrington's and was high on Clark when no one else was. He got Hoge to transfer.

They got guys like Freeland and Saleapaga and Pay and guys every single year with multiple P5 offers. You can only coach talent up to their ceiling. They've had better and better talent to work with, regardless of coaching style. Nobody in yves last decade or more has been the athlete Christensen is. Nobody has been a recruit rated as highly as Hoge.

Talent being up is #1. That's something they can continue at the very least. Then from there you can produce. Funk produced a conference OL of the year every year but one at Michigan. Pretty sure the guy caen both recruit can and coach. But you have to start with talent that has a higher ceiling... so far he's likely to continue with that.