'Everything you could ask for' in a DB, TJ Metcalf wants 'to be a reason why Michigan is great'

Michigan Wolverines football landed two Arkansas defensive back transfers — brothers TJ Metcalf and Tevis Metcalf — back in December, and both will help the back end of the defense.

Michigan was the first school that showed interest when they entered the transfer portal, and the only program they visited.

“Growing up, I always knew about Michigan,” TJ Metcalf said. “Michigan just got that culture and that tradition, something that I wanted to be a part of. I wanted to have my name on one of these walls, to be a reason why Michigan is great.

“I told the guys that I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

While TJ and Tevis weren’t a “package deal,” they both were confident in the decision to end up in Ann Arbor.

“There were a couple different factors that played a part in it, but overall we both made the decision to come here — and we don’t regret it,” TJ said.

“Me and my brother kinda think the same since we’ve been growing up. A lot of the same stuff hit us both, and I think we handled it well. Just coming here, it’s really a blessing for both of us to be here, like it was at Arkansas.”

TJ Metcalf — a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder — registered 57 tackles, including 1 for loss, 7 pass breakups and 3 interceptions in 12 games with 11 starts as a sophomore at Arkansas in 2024. He’s playing both safety spots and some nickel back this spring.

“I’m everything you could ask for,” Metcalf said when asked to break down his game.” When it comes down to covering, just having that mindset of not letting a guy beat you. I’m very physical.

“One underrated trait that I have is I’m very smart. Most of the time, I see the play before it happens, and I just take that into the game with me. I think I’ve gotten faster, and I’m comfortable with my speed. I play with a great mindset.”

Metcalf believes he has a knack for the football, and he put that on display last season.

“I think with getting interceptions — tips and overthrows, we gotta have those,” the Michigan defensive back said. “That’s one of the sayings we got.

“But as far as getting interceptions, you really gotta be comfortable back there. You really gotta know what you’re doing in the back end for you to be around the ball, and I think that’s what’s helped me and what’s gonna help me leading into the season — just knowing where I’m at, knowing where the ball is going to be and just going to get it.”

The Metcalfs come from a football family, with their cousin, DK Metcalf, currently enjoying a successful career as an NFL wide receiver. DK, his father, Terrence Metcalf and TJ and Tevis’ dad, Tarrus Metcalf, all played at Ole Miss.

“My dad always instilled in me and my brother that he wants us to be great, so from young ages, we were always doing extra work,” TJ said. “We just always had the mindset that we have right now, and growing up in a football family has been really good for us.

“To just see my cousin in the NFL and his dad doing the same thing that he’s doing, it makes me and my brother want to go harder, because we’re next up, so we gotta make it happen.”

Metcalf has connected well with Michigan graduate safety Rod Moore, who’s already a program legend for making big plays, including his game-sealing interception against Ohio State in 2023.

Metcalf understands that some of the biggest moments in Michigan lore are also some of the most important in college football in general.

“I’m glad you asked that. That’s one of the things that I wanted to come be a part of,” he said. “I knew that when you play for Michigan, you’re playing the best of the best, no matter if it’s the SEC or not. Just playing here, you always are gonna have that game — ’The Game.’ I wanted to come be a part of that. I wanted to come play against the best players in the country.

“I knew that coming here I was gonna have to be that guy in order for us to be successful. That’s how everybody has to think. Just playing against Ohio State and all those other schools … it kinda seems like every game is a rivalry game. We have so many trophies and stuff for every game.

“I just wanted to come be a part of a real rivalry.”

November 29 — when Michigan welcomes Ohio State to The Big House — is a ways away, but Metcalf is exactly where he wants to be as the season and that rivalry game grow closer.