The veteran lineman brings Power Four experience and championship know-how to a program looking for it.
Do you know what it’s like to win a National Championship in Division I NCAA Football? Probably not. The vast majority of people do not.
But you know who does? New Mizzou Tiger Dominick Giudice does. Giudice joined the Michigan football program in 2021 as a three-star defensive end and slowly began his transition to the opposite side of the trenches. In his sophomore season, he logged time on both the offensive and defensive lines. In his junior season, one in which Michigan won the natty, Giudice was the Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week twice while also logging time exclusively on the offensive line. In his final season as a Wolverine, Giudice completed his full transition as a starting center and rotational piece.
That may not sound like much of a career for a guy who, presumably, is coming to Mizzou to play a lot of football on the line. But the trajectory of his career as an offensive lineman is encouraging, and he’s done it all in a program where it would be easy to get totally lost in championship expectations that Michigan holds itself to. Adding Giudice gives Mizzou a bit of grit, a bit of experience and a whole lot of experience at the highest level of the game. Say less!
Where He Fits: This is, in my mind, a genuine puzzle the staff will need to sort through. Giudice has some experience as a right guard throughout his career. But in 2024, he saw most of his action at center. And here’s the thing… he was pretty good! In fact, he was better than Tollison, especially as a pass blocker. I can’t really see a world where Tollison is unseated from his starting position, but there is a part of me that wonders if the staff thinks it can get more out of Tollison on the right than at center.
That might be overthinking it, however, Giudice is likely coming to compete for the starting right guard spot. And if he doesn’t get it, he’ll probably be the sixth lineman who sees lots of time at both C and RG.
When He’ll Play: I’m genuinely running out of ways to say, “He’s playing right away,” without simply typing it and moving on. But, yeah, he’s playing right away.
What It Means: Historically, Mizzou’s standing as a upper middle-class football program wasn’t good enough to put them on the national stage as a championship contender. In the 12-team CFP era, however, they’ll always be in the conversation… so long as they can challenge for 9-10 wins per season. In order to sustain that success, you need championship-level depth in the trenches. Giudice gives the Tigers a player who has played in the biggest games and knows the level it takes to get there.