On Shamari Earls' spring
Yeah, I think Shamari has done a good job of getting here in January, trying to put it all together. You know, he didn't play his senior season, got hurt in preseason as a senior. So, it's been a lot on him. I think he's been pushing through. He's a tough kid, his parents, former in the military, both of them. So, I think that kid is just, you know, he's a pleaser, asking all the right questions. Trying to get better each and every day. So, I think it's a lot on Shamari. Just, you know, he has a lot of confidence in himself, but he also doesn't want to let anybody down. Doesn't want to let us down, doesn't want to head coach down, doesn't want to let Michigan down. He just puts a lot of pressure on himself, which is, you know, it's a good trade if he can balance it all. But I'm excited about Shamar.
On Earls' physical skills
Yeah, Shamari is a tall, long guy. You know, I think Michigan every year for the last couple years has at least had one or two guys that way. So, I think the combination of being, you know, over 6'1", around 200 pounds, and also ran in the 10s in high school allows him to be a unique player. He's kind of like Bambi sometimes because he's just so long and he has to figure it out. But I'm really excited about him.
On the defensive backs being positionless and who could fill that role
Yeah, I think this spring's been pretty good because every day at the star position that we played last year, we've been using one a day, to let the corners play it. The next day, we've let the safeties play it. So, T.J. Metcalf, Zeke Barry, Suge, Mason Curtis, Jacob Oden, Lowe. Like we had a lot of guys playing nickel each day. We just try to rotate it through so we can add some depth at that position. You know, I think each week that position can kind of change, right? Zeke played it earlier in the year. Then in the last four or five games, Makari played it. Probably had some of the best games he had at Michigan doing that. So, I just think we just got to try to create depth. The best way you do that is find roles for the current guys on your team. Let guys feel like they're starters and stuff like that. I think that's really important.
On his thoughts on the Metcalf brothers
Yeah, I think those kids do a good job. His parents, it starts with his mom and dad. They're the elite people. You know, Jesse and those guys recruited him a little bit here. I always clown Jesse, they didn't take him. So, we took him. But, you know, those kids are focused, man. They're here all the time. In between class, they'll eat breakfast. They want to watch tape on their own. You might walk by the meeting room and they're just in there watching tape, very critical of themselves. I just think they have a maturity about them. I think that comes from mom and dad. You know, they love football. The pedigree of that family with D.K. and that family, they're just really appreciative of being at Michigan. The way that we do things, you know, the detail, you know, the focus on winning championships. I just think they want to do their part to help us get there. But those kids are, they have a bright future, and I'm really excited to see both of those guys. You know, if you watch ...
