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On the nickel battle and what he’s looking for

Right. To me, I think that position here, if you look at them, you had one of the best DBs, probably ever to come through here. Now, he’s at the Commanders right now. Mikey played it. You had Dax Hill play it. You had Rod Moore play it. Really, it’s probably one of the best DBs on the field. So I think that’s kind of an older position for a guy. He’s been in the program. He knows the system. He knows the scheme. He can run. He can cover. He can tackle. He can blitz. It’s a unique position. I think it’s really hard to go out and recruit a guy for that sometimes because usually it’s just a guy that has a lot of fight, really aggressive and all that. So to me, I think in camp, it’s all about development, right? There’s development. You over here. And I feel like you just try to develop guys as much as you can. So we’ve been playing probably six or seven guys in there. Now, of course, you know, probably about a week or an hour and a half. We’ll cut that down to about three or four. But right now, we’re just trying to get a lot of different guys in that role. You know, the season last year, able to move Zeke from nickel to play outside. What happens if you lose two corners or you lose two safeties? What are you going to do? So I think that’s the beauty of training camp, right? There’s no scoreboard right now that you can kind of move guys around and kind of see what guys can do there. And then how are you going to call it, right? You will call the game a little bit different if Makari Page, which had a good game the other day when I was watching it, him playing nickel versus Mikey or Rod playing nickel, right? You will call the game a little bit different. So we’re just trying to see what kid can do the whole package. What kid would we have a certain game plan for them if they play nickel or not? That’s just kind of how it is, right?

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On whether its premature to have a leader for the position

Yeah, I just think probably, I would probably say it is. You know, I say some of the guys that probably worked a lot with the one group would be Sug, would be TJ, you know, would be Mason Curtis, would be Zeke. That’s probably all the guys that have you seen already played. Then we have some younger guys that are also getting a lot of reps there as well. You know, like Jeremiah Lowe, Tevis, you know, I’ve mentioned TJ Metcalf already. So we’re just trying to get a lot of the guys there each class, you know. I have a senior, junior, sophomore, just anybody that has that skill set. There’s some guys we’re not playing there, just allowing those guys to just focus on one position because you don’t want to cloud them because you got to be half safety, half corner.

On Jyaire Hill’s development and progress during camp

Yeah, I think Sug, to me, is a unique kid. I think he’s loaded with talent, and I think you take a kid like that that’s super talented and maybe played high school running back, ran track, and then you get him and tell him he’s a DB, it takes him a little bit of time to develop. I think his first year he redshirts, and then last year he’s playing on the other side of Will Johnson, which I still argue is one of the best corners in the country when he was here, right? So there’s a lot of added pressure. I think now he kind of saw how Will did that, and now I think he’s kind of, you know, allowing that to improve his game, understanding the pressure that’s going to be on with him. People are going to know what he does. They’re going to watch his tape. His errors that he does in games is going to show up. I just think he’s mature. His family’s done a great job. I think Tress and the strength staff have done a good job of challenging him, putting him in groups in the weight room to push himself. So I just think he’s still a good kid. You know, he’s still silly at times, but I think he knows when to turn on the switch and turn off the switch. I saw him out there a second ago and asked him, did he have media today? And he was like, no, no, not today. I mean, he’s just a kid, man. He’s just nervous. He don’t want to talk in front of the camera. He’s just a young kid that is super talented. I think he can have a really good season if he can stay focused.

On whether he wants to to nail down people at starting roles or keep things fluid

Well, I think you have to give kids opportunities to play, right? You recruit these kids, high-end kids as freshmen, and then you have a really good kind of core, a group of guys that’s already been here. I think it’s hard to tell a kid that when you recruit them, you’re going to give them a chance to play, and then when he gets here, you don’t ever give him a chance to move them around. So I just think that’s kind of what I try to do. I think you have front runners of guys that you already seen play last year, but you can kind of predict a depth chart. But then I also think there’s some guys that will surprise you that are young players that have got here in the spring or got here right now and are learning the package. I always talk about this is kids develop at their pace, not our pace, and kids are going to get ready when they’re ready. We just can’t play them a play before they’re ready. That’s kind of my, you know, my motto. So if a kid’s ready to play 12 plays a game, I want him to be the best 12 plays he ever played. But I do think once you get the game week, once the kid’s getting a routine, I think right now they’re pro athletes and understanding it’s just all ball right now. But pretty soon it’s not, right? It’s going to be school. Kids are going to start getting nervous. I always see it. Every time you get close to game day, you have one of these young kids, and they’ll just be busting coverages. So you know right now the guys are a little nervous. So you either got to get them caught up to speed or figure out if there’s somebody else that’s not as nervous as the kid, because it’s a lot of pressure. You know, you go into high school, you’re playing in front of 5,000 to 10,000. You get out there, it’s going to be 100-plus thousand every game, screaming. You ain’t going to be able to hear a coach on the sideline. It’s a different atmosphere. And you can’t really get that at practice, if that makes sense. But we try to be hard as heck on those kids at practice. I’m pretty tough at practice, but on game day, I’m not, right? I’m kind of a cheerleader on game day. Correct the issues, try to get them better. If they mess up, is there something that we can fix and keep them going? All the yelling and screaming and cussing on game day, I think it’s kind of overrated on game day. At practice, maybe not so much, but on game day, I think you got to get the kids refocused, man. You can’t lose a kid because you’re screaming and yelling at them. That’s just not my style. I’ve never been that way.

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On Mason Curtis’ development and his expectations for him this season

Yeah, I think Mason’s a unique kid, right? So I think Wink has done a lot of different things with a lot of different positions. So you got a kid that’s 6’4-plus 200 and probably 10 pounds, something like that, played high school outside linebacker, played receiver, came here to play outside linebacker, played receiver. So there’s still some stuff in his game that he has to get better at, and I think he attacks it. He’s so smart. His mom, his family has done a great job with the kid. He’s always studying. I just think it’s just playing. He’s got to get out there and play the game. You only get good at football by playing more. So, he’s been a guy, as you all know, that’s playing nickel and high safety for us as well, and I think it’s just going to be something where we can move him around. But I think he has a high, high ceiling. I think he could be in a leadership role. I think it’s hard for guys to be a leader until they actually, in their mind, players think you can’t be a leader until you make plays, but I think it’s a little bit different. Does that make sense? So you got a guy last year, Rod Moore, that never played, but he still was a leader. I think some young players don’t realize that they take leadership of the best players. Sometimes it’s like that, but sometimes it’s not. But I’m excited for Mason. I think, like I told you all maybe like nine months ago that he was going to be a guy at the end of the season that was going to play a really good ball in these halves. I think he’ll continue to get better.

On expectations for TJ Metcalf and the maturity of his position group

T.J. Metcalf, he’s a unique kid, and his brother, what I liked about him when we recruited him, he has a little sister that was here, and she was goofing around, you know, when he’d go on the visit. And he’s just like so caring towards his little sister, him and his brother. So when you see a kid like that, she’s not listening, parents are getting aggravated because you’re in a meeting with a coach, and he just takes her to the side, calms her down. I think that’s kind of how he is as a player. He is level-headed, and he’s calm. He plays with aggression when he needs to. But I think that’s something with his parents that they’ve done a great job with the kid, and he’s mature. He came here because he wanted to be a part of a championship culture. So he came here saying that he has to prove himself every day. And I think that’s what he’s been trying to do. I don’t think he tried to step on anyone’s toes, but I think he has a mission that he wants to be one of the greats that played here. And there’s a lot of greats that have. I mean, this place is with tradition, whether it’s me here or anybody’s here, it’s secondary coaches. I mean, he’s a really good player. So I just think he wants to be a leader. I think he asks a ton of questions. He’s always asking Rod questions about what does he see this, you know, all the guys. I just think he’s just wired the right way. Will’s a little different because he started here, but that kind of makeup where you just want to work really hard to prove everybody that gave him an opportunity. I think that’s kind of his mantra. So he should have a really good season playing nickel, playing high safety. He’s versatile. He’s a good young player. I’m excited about him.

On standouts at receiver and how the room looks compared to last season

Yeah, you know, I think, you know, people get hired to write stories, right? So not on that part. But, you know, when you look at a receiver core, besides maybe one or two guys, it’s really the same core. But I think the quarterback play’s been better, right? So I think these guys are getting open. I think the ball’s in the right spots. I think we have done a good job. You know, I think McCulley’s done a great job on the outside. He’s a big, strong receiver. I think he could be a really good force here, but he’s still learning the position, right? He’s a high school quarterback, college quarterback, and he’s playing receiver now. So, of course, Bellamy has to coach him up on some things. But you talk about effort and competitor. I think he’s done a great job. You know, Semaj in the slot, he’s really good. You’re playing man in the slot against Semaj. He’s quick. He’s strong. He’s confident. I think that’s been awesome. You know, Fred Moore on the outside, he has speed. And then, you know, there’s Channing, Mr. Reliable. He’s going to be right wherever he needs to be, playing multiple spots. And then we got young receivers that haven’t played as much that people don’t know about. You know, Marsh and Jamar and all those guys. I think the room, Simp, that just got here, I think that room is loaded with talent. And I think they are hungry to prove that they belong in everything they can do. Coach Bellamy is the guy to do that, man. You know, as you all know, Coach Bellamy is fiery. He’s a good teacher. He takes time with them. He’s coached DBs here. He coached receivers here. He played DB here. He played receiver here. Right? So, I just think he’s a teacher, and I think that’s what that room needs. I think they’re doing a great job. Quarterback’s been putting the ball where it needs to be. It’s tough, man. You’re talking about there’s some throws. You’re in perfect position, and the ball is on the ticks. And you’re playing press man, and the guy throws the ball right on the money. So, it’s just hard to defend. They’re making us defend the whole field, which I think that’s what you want. He’s making us better. Going into the season, we should be better in the passing game, for sure, offense and defense, with what we’re going against every day. And then the tight ends. I know y’all know. I mean, Colson is one of a generation. But Marlin Klein, Hoffman, you know, Brady, all those guys, they’ve done a great job. But I think we’re a lot better. I think y’all will be excited. I know y’all studied, you know. So, I think y’all will be really excited about what we put out there this year.

On his roots in Texas paying dividends in recruiting the state

I think we recruit high-end guys here, man. I think if you’re a DB coach here, I mean, I’m not saying it’s a given, but you should recruit really good players. And I think the second piece of it, you’re going to take a couple kids that you just feel really strong about. They might not be ranked as high, and they’re just going to end up being really good players. You know, like Mikey, as y’all have seen. Everybody claims he was how he is now, but he’s a low-ranked guy coming out. Josaiah, G5 kid, just different things. I look at it as more like the kids kind of recruit Michigan, and then I think we have to do a really good job of that. I think I could recruit anywhere, and I just think when kids commit to other places, I mean, I’m happy for them. It just wasn’t right. I think the worst ones is the guys that you get here that can’t play, not the ones that don’t choose here. I think there’s probably, you know, the way I raise, I just try to recruit and try to be honest with them and tell them the opportunities that they got to play here. What we stand for, being smart, discipline, blue-collar program, understanding that you’re going to be the talk of the town. When you come to a place like Michigan, you walk into the store, you’re eating somewhere, they’re going to know who you are. Do you want to be around that environment? Some kids do, some kids don’t, but I think it also is good when you have recruited certain areas. I think coaches know that you’re going to take care of their kids when they get up here, and I think when they come up here as coaches and they see how loving Coach Moore is and our staff is, they understand that their kids are going to get taken care of. But, yeah, I do think it’s good to – if you want to recruit nationally, I think you have to have some coaches in certain areas of the country so coaches can say, oh, yeah, I remember him when he used to recruit my kid here. I do think that helps, and I think you’re spot on. I think we have done a good job of just having different coaches from all over the country here at Michigan so we can recruit nationally so we can have a top-10 class year in and year out, hopefully.

On elements of TJ Metcalf’s game that has evolved while at Michigan

Well, I think on tape you saw a guy that was very productive. He was in and out of the alignment, you know, the starting lineup there. I just seen his leadership and willingness to grow, willing to push himself, willing to challenge himself. I think those are the type of guys that are leaders, and I think that’s what kind of where that Rod Moore’s best trait is that, right? I just think that’s kind of where I saw a kid that’s hungry to learn, hungry to grow, hungry to put himself out there and mess up and be okay with the result. I think that’s what good football players do. They take chances. So I just think he’s just trying to prove himself. Like, he’s a walk-on at Michigan. Nothing wrong with walk-ons, but he’s a walk-on trying to earn his right every day. That’s how he comes to practice. Like, he won’t miss a practice. He had a root canal. I’m not trying to talk about medical, but he wanted to go in so bad. He had a root canal. He was, like, begging me to go in and practice. I’m like, man, no, man, you can’t go in today. So, but that’s who he is. So he tried to find his way in there. I had to take him out. But I love TJ.

On the plans for Zeke Berry this season

I think it’s the same plan. I think Zeke’s playing inside and outside right now. Every day at practice, those guys get nickel reps in outside. So it’s a lot of time with script and practices, periods and all that stuff. But that’s our kind of plan for Zeke, just to move him around. And I think that’s why you see guys from here, like Dax Hill. He played outside corner. He plays high safety. And he plays nickel in the NFL. So I want our players, if they ever get to a East West Shrine game, they ever get to the Senior Bowl, and they ask, hey, man, we have some guys injured. Would you mind playing safety? They’re like, oh, yeah, I can do it. I think that’s kind of what I want to do. I want to be known for development. I think that’s what this program is. So I think I don’t want to put kids in one box. You just do one thing all the time. Only certain teams like you because you only do this. My job is to make the NFL figure it out, what he can and cannot do, not just give it to him. So our plan this year for Zeke is to move him around, depending on the game plan, and kind of see where it goes. But he’s been doing a good job pushing through with adversity. I think the kid’s unique because he didn’t play as much until last year, and I think you never know how a season is with your body until you actually play, knowing what the preparation is. So a coach can tell you, hey, man, it’s going to be a long season. It’s a long season, like an NFL season. Them guys that go from here, they go to the NFL, and they got preseason, then they make it to the playoffs, the Super Bowl. Those are long years. So we just try to tell our guys this takes the preparation, the PRN that we talk about, and that’s something Zeke and any new player that’s starting, that’s something that they got to work through. Because they believe you, and they listen, but you never know until you get there.

On Rod Moore’s status

Yeah, I think Rod will be fine. I think when you’re wired that way, he’s going to figure it out. He’s moving around, doing good things at practice, communicating, making the checks and stuff like that. I just think you owe it to a kid that’s done everything right while he’s been here, just made a lot of proud, a lot of wins, iconic player here, and he still has another year. I just think you’ve got to do right by him. Whether as a coach you want him out there so bad to run out there to be the first starter in the first game or not, or however that works for the kid, I just think that’s kind of up to him and his team here. We’ve got the best medical staff in the country here at Michigan. That’s something that’s unique here. I think they have a good plan for him, and he’s progressing really well. And flying, he’s doing a really good job. So I’m excited about him, and he’s really fired up about playing this fall.

On Jaden Mangham’s progression

Oh, absolutely. I love Jayden Mangum. I think it’s unique, man. I think there’s a story within a story with him. You leave your rival, and you get here, and you get hurt, and you don’t play, and you redshirt. People are like, what happened? He had an injury. That’s part of life. He had some adversity, and I think it made him grow. He’s been a great surprise. I’m a big fan of him, and he’s going to definitely be helping us week one, first quarter, playing, and he’s going to be a real guy for us. I think he has some range. I tell him he’s got to get back to his all-Big Ten-type player. He had that, and he did it at the other schools. So I think that’s something where I’m really excited about. But he’s done a great job. He’s going to be out there playing, and he’s in the mix. And we roll a lot of guys with the ones and twos, and he’s been going with the ones and twos. So I’m excited about him.

On Bryce Underwood’s maturity

I think there’s a couple things, right? I still think he still has to grow, and he has to continue to do that and do it with live bullets. But you talk about a maturity for a kid that’s always in the media, that’s always getting everybody just – everything he does, everybody’s looking through a fine – it’s a fine cone with that kid. And I think the kid has handled it like a pro. I think he’s super talented. There’s a reason why he’s the number one player in the country, right? Like my little son, kids can know that when they watch him play, he’s a good football player. But I just think he’s taking command, and all those quarterbacks this camp have done a really good job. And I think Bryce has done a great job of just being a leader. And he has a personality when he walks into a room, you want to know who that guy is, not just because of his stature, but just his personality, smiling, competitor, competes. But I think he has – he’s special. So I would definitely say that. But as you all know, I mean, he’s still a young player. He hasn’t done it on Saturdays yet. So I think we’ve got to give him some grace and some time. But I think everybody here, our families, they have done a great job. His family especially have done a great job with mentoring and molding that kid to where he’s at right now. But he’s mature beyond his years for a young kid like that. But still has fun. That’s the thing that’s crazy. He can flip the switch. A lot of guys don’t know how to do that.