How Michigan introduced the ‘Rhino’ role and what it means for the offense

Jason Beck traces the concept to his time at Virginia, with the nickname coming later at Syracuse. The moniker stuck because a versatile player there, Chris Elmore, earned the nickname "Rhino" while lining up at multiple positions. Beck developed and refined the package in subsequent stops and deployed it heavily at Utah in 2025.

Utah made the Rhino a major part of the offense last season. Beck said the Utes used six offensive linemen roughly 400 to 500 times in 2025. Solatoa Moea'i was Utah's primary Rhino and played 328 snaps as an in-line tight end, according to Pro Football Focus. Utah finished 11-2 that year while averaging more than 41 points and 482 yards per game, making the package a production-proven element of Beck's scheme.

Michigan's first look: Week 1 vs Western Michigan

Michigan wasted little time using the Rhino. In the season opener, Manuel Beigel — a 6-foot-5, 307-pound junior with previous experience on the defensive line — served as Michigan's primary Rhino, playing 26 of the team's 51 offensive snaps in that alignment.

That usage rate shows Beck and the staff intended the Rhino to be a regular offensive piece rather than a situational short-yardage gimmick. Beigel's snap count meant he was essentially a sixth starter along the offensive front for that game.

The formation gave Michigan favorable blocking numbers on some plays, including a Wildcat long-trap look with Jordan Marshall taking the snap. But execution at the second level was inconsistent. On that long-trap example, an opposing defensive end disrupted Beigel's attempt to reach the second level, which allowed a linebacker to fill the running lane and limited the gain to one yard.

Michigan finished the game with only 108 rushing yards, and the offensive line struggled at times to create consistent running lanes. Head coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged after the game that the staff may have "missed the mark" on some uses. Despite that, the volume of Rhino snaps indicates the staff will keep using the package while they work on the details.

The Rhino hinges on versatility. If Beigel — or whoever lines up in the role — can reliably sustain blocks in the running game and hold up in pass protection, Michigan gains a formation that can obscure play intent while improving blocking leverage.

Beck brought a tested scheme element with him to Ann Arbor, and Michigan committed to it early. Week 1 exposed execution gaps, but the frequency of use suggests the Rhino will remain part of the game plan while the team irons out those details.