Giovanni El-Hadi patiently waited for Michigan football turn, despite 'opportunities' elsewhere

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A few years ago, it became apparent to Michigan offensive guard Giovanni El-Hadi that he could play, and start, at the highest level.

El-Hadi’s number was called when incumbent left guard Trevor Keegan was battling injuries early in 2022, allowing the local product to find some early playing time. But when Keegan returned, he remained mostly healthy, and El-Hadi had to watch Michigan win Big Ten and national championships from the sideline.

Now El-Hadi will get his opportunity in earnest. Expected to start at right guard, he could have left Ann Arbor for just about any school in the nation and gotten playing time, given his caliber of play, but he stuck with it, waiting for this moment.

“Been very patient and trusting God,” El-Hadi said. “Didn’t want to leave (for) nowhere else. Didn’t want to go nowhere else. Had opportunities, but decided to stay over here. Be patient, and it’s my turn now.”

As El-Hadi says, he had other opportunities. If that’s the case, why did he stay with the Wolverines?

For one, it’s everything that Michigan has to offer — the school, the coaching staff, the competition. And that provides the best training for an offensive lineman, in his eyes.

“Michigan was the best place out there,” El-Hadi said. “One of the best O-line coaches we had, Coach Moore. Now, Coach Newsome, one of the best O-line coaches. I just trust in the process. So it’s about, we have a standard over here. We have to withhold that standard every day. That’s what it’s about. Keep getting better and better. Got the two best D-tackles in the nation, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

There really is little better than going up against arguably the best defensive tackle tandem in the nation in Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham. As El-Hadi sees it, it’s an iron sharpens iron situation for him and the elite tackle duo in practice.

“Good work. Good work. They make me better. I make them better. That’s what it’s about.”

What’s more, El-Hadi feels ready to go now that he’ll be a starter. He transformed his body over the past few seasons and

“I really took importance of my health, changed my body,” El-Hadi said. “No, I wasn’t really a chubby offensive lineman, but I really refined my diet, really — now I’m playing right guard, so really was working on the right side a lot this season. Even the left side too, but just every day, doing drills every day, bring another player, bringing the unit together. So we keep going over the place. Everybody’s better. So keep getting stronger, faster. That’s what it’s about every year. Keep getting better.”