Larger Than Life
University of Michigan offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi gets ready to block a Michigan State player during the Wolverines’ 24-17 win over the Spartans last fall.
Giovanni El-Hadi’s legacy of faith, family and football at Michigan
By Steve Stein
Giovanni El-Hadi is a 6-foot-5, 310-pound senior offensive lineman for the University of Michigan football team. That’s a typical size for a Division I offensive lineman. But there’s nothing typical about this 21-year-old from Sterling Heights.
El-Hadi is half Chaldean and half Lebanese. His mother Remonda is Chaldean. His father Khaled is Lebanese. He’s the only Chaldean on the U-M football team.
Growing up, El-Hadi was always the biggest guy his age. As an adult, his love for his family, Chaldean and Lebanese communities and faith have grown as big in stature as he is.
“God has brought me a long way. I’m nothing without Him,” he said. “He implanted a dream in me, and I know whatever happens, He has my back. I trust whatever God has in store for me. Everything I do is for my family, my team and Him.”
Ronnie Larkin can provide plenty of insight into not just Giovanni El-Hadi the football player, but Giovanni El-Hadi the young boy and grown man. Larkin is El-Hadi’s godfather and was his first football coach. He also was an assistant coach for the Sterling Heights Stevenson High School football team when El-Hadi played there, and a neighbor while El-Hadi was growing up in Sterling Heights.
“Gio is humble. He looks out for his family. He’s a great kid,” Larkin said.
Larkin calls El-Hadi “kid” because he’s known him since he was a kid. Specifically, a 9-year-old soccer player. Larkin was El-Hadi’s coach for two years with the Sterling Heights Redskins youth football program and the running backs coach at Stevenson when El-Hadi was a four-year starter with the Titans.
“When he was young, Gio was always the biggest kid. He even had a beard when he was 10 or 11,” Larkin said with a laugh. “There are weight limits for youth football. Gio was always running around wearing garbage bags and spitting so he could make weight. He always made it.”
Larkin said El-Hadi visited him often in those formative years. Why? There was weightlifting equipment in his basement. “Gio was very dedicated to getting stronger for football,” Larkin said.
Speaking of football, El-Hadi is expected to be a starter again this fall for U-M as he makes his case for the NFL Draft in his fifth and final year with the Wolverines (he was a redshirt as a freshman in 2021).
El-Hadi started all 13 U-M games last season at right guard and was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection. He was a contributor to the Wolverines’ national championship team in 2023. He played in all 15 games that season, 12 on special teams and 11 on the offensive line. He was an extra offensive lineman and played on special teams in U-M’s national title game win vs. Washington.
He’s appeared in 42 games in the U-M career, including 31 on the offensive line with 14 starts.
El-Hadi announced his return to the U-M football team on social media in January, eliciting applause from Wolverines fans because his experience is needed on the offensive line.
“With one year of eligibility remaining, I’ve made the decision to return to Michigan for my final season and help bring home another national championship,” he posted. “I’m completely dedicated to this team, this university, and to giving my all on the field, trusting that God will guide us every step of the way.”
El-Hadi said his personality fits that of an offensive lineman. That’s one reason why he was a leader on the U-M line last season and will be again this season. “We’re humble. We have a job to do ... take care of the quarterback and running backs,” he said. “We make them look good, and they make us look good.”
While at Stevenson, where he was a two-year starter and team captain, El-Hadi helped the Titans reach the state semifinals as a junior and led Stevenson to its first Macomb Athletic Conference Red championship in 11 years as a senior.
El-Hadi didn’t allow a sack on more than 140 passing attempts by Stevenson during his senior year, and he averaged nine “pancake” blocks per game. As a junior, he gave up just one sack in 138 passing attempts and had 53 pancakes.
His decision to go to U-M after being heavily recruited was an easy one, he said. He turned down other scholarship offers from Indiana, Iowa, Penn State and Central Michigan.
“I didn’t decide to attend Michigan just because I live in the state. I went because of the culture there,” he said. “I’ve developed great bonds with the players and coaches. The coaches and staff truly care about you.”
Giovanni El-Hadi’s journey from a young boy in Sterling Heights to a key player for the University of Michigan football team is due to his unwavering dedication, faith, and love for his family and community. His story is not just one of physical strength on the field but of the inner strength that drives him to succeed and lead with humility. As he enters his final season with the Wolverines, El-Hadi remains focused on his goal of helping his team achieve greatness, while always trusting in God’s plan for his life.
CAPTION:
University of Michigan offensive lineman Giovanni El-Hadi gets ready to block a Michigan State player during the Wolverines’ 24-17 win over the Spartans last fall.