INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore met with reporters Thursday for a 45-minute breakout session at Big Ten Media Days. He discussed this year’s personnel, team goals, Ohio State, and much more. The highlights of everything he had to say can be found below.
- What is your version of climbing a tree to get a recruit? My version of that is getting to know a kid inside and out. Know what makes them tick and showing them who he is as a person. Jim Harbaugh was his own man and Moore is his own man. He’s going to do it his way.
- How often do you talk to Jim Harbaugh? He talked to him two days ago. He always tells Moore “do you.” He told him his phone is always available.
- Quarterback battle: The number one thing is who is going to take care of the football? The Michigan defense is going to give those guys good work in practice. Who will lead on the team-first mentality? On who the starter will be: “You guys will know just as soon as we do. Maybe.”
- How do you handle the playoffs? The important part is winning. You want to stay fresh but you have to win first.
- Greg Crippen and Raheem Anderson are battling at center.
- There are two players vying to be the right tackle.
- Secondary shaping up? “I feel great about the depth in the secondary.” Could be a number of guys at the second corner. Jyaire Hill is looking like the guy now. There’s a lot of competition at nickel and safety.
- When do you expect a final ruling from the NCAA? “I’m not at liberty to comment about that. I’m not worried about that.”
- What does Tony Alford bring to the program? An unbelievable human being.
- The running backs: Kalel Mullings is not talked about enough. He’s a force. He produced every time they asked him to last year. Very excited about the group as a whole.
- “When you’re at Michigan, you’re always hungry to win.” There is no complacency.
- Major changes under him? There will be music at practice.
- “There’s no honeymoon year.”
- On the freshmen: “Talk about a mature group.” Quarterback Jadyn Davis made plays all spring long. The receivers are really electric. They may or may not play early. Running back Jordan Marshall has some Blake Corum to him. Most exciting freshman on defense is edge rusher Dom Nichols.
- Can you win the Big Ten this year? Every year they try to do that. If they win it it’s because they took care of the football and played good defense.
- On receiver Semaj Morgan: He’s one of the best practice players on the team. Loses 5-6 pounds every practice. Runs hard. He is small in stature but plays like he’s 200 pounds. Got a 4.0 GPA this year. He will wear the No. 0 for the Wolverines.
- What has DC Wink Martindale added or tweaked? You’ll find out week one and it will tell the story over the course of the season.
- On Ohio State: “We think about them 24/7, 365.” Can’t be worried about the past. Can’t worry about the future. Just focus on the process.
- On Colston Loveland: “You ever heard of Travis Kelce?” He has improved everywhere. He looks like a receiver when he’s running routes.
- The preparation and attention to detail is greater than it was a year ago.
- On DT Rayshaun Benny recovering from injury: He’ll work out the kinks in the first week of camp and then get going.
- Excited for this veteran offensive line. Myles Hinton is back. He could have been the best of them all a year ago.
- How did the in-helmet communication go? “It went well.” He’s been using it to yell at certain players for fun.
- Could safety Rod Moore be back this year? “Yeah, we’ll see.” He’s slightly ahead of schedule. “We’ll see where it goes.”
- Center Greg Grippen: “He’s ready to go.” He has seen transfers come in during his time on the offensive line and he stuck around and got better.
- Defensive ends Derrick Moore and Josiah Stewart shrink the pocket so well. “Really excited for TJ Guy.” Stewart last year was “Josh Uche all over again” last year coming over from Coastal Carolina.
- NIL is in a good place “and we’re going to continue to build.” He doesn’t have the full number in terms of NIL compensation.
- Linebacker Jimmy Rolder has been healthy and awesome. He looks good. Other linebackers include Micah Pollard who is up about 25 pounds. Cole Sullivan is a true freshman but he will play this year.
- On the possibility of playing Ohio State two or three times: “Love it. Yes. Let’s do it.”
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