Former Michigan pass rush stars Aidan Hutchinson, Kwity Paye reunite in different uniforms
Michigan football has a storied recent history of cranking out pass rushers to the NFL. Two of its most recent first-round picks at the EDGE spot – Aidan Hutchinson and Kwity Paye – were able to reunite on the field in training camp this week, albeit wearing different jerseys.
Paye was the No. 21 overall pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2021 NFL Draft. One draft class later, Hutchinson went No. 2 overall to the hometown Detroit Lions. The two franchises met this week for joint practices in Westfield, Indiana.
This brought about a natural reunion of “Salt and Pepper,” the moniker the duo went by when they played together at Michigan. However, the two had not been in contact lately. Hutchinson owned up to that as an error on his end.
“I found out yesterday that I had actually blocked his number,” Hutchinson said, via The Detroit News. “I was texting him. If you look at our messages, I had about five messages to him. I was like, ‘Dude, Kwity’s ghosting me right now.'”
Paye was apparently responding, but wires were crossed.
Things have changed a bit since they took the field at Michigan. Injuries affected both of them during the 2-4 COVID-19 season in 2020, then Paye declared early for the draft. Hutchinson stuck around and captained Michigan to a 12-2 record and Big Ten Championship.
Now they are both pros.
“We came up together a little bit and then Kwity left me in my senior year,” Hutchinson said. “No, but we’re both here and it’s crazy that we’re practicing together but we’re in different jerseys, so yeah, it’s wild.”
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The former Michigan pass rush duo, who played together in Ann Arbor from 2018-20, relished the experience to reconnect and share feedback with one another. Paye has been in the NFL only a year longer than Hutchinson, but each has something to offer the other.
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“Before we actually came here, I was asking what type of moves he was going to work on this year and what he’s looking for,” Paye said. “And from there, just telling him what I had learned from last year, my first year in the league, how these O-linemen punch. It’s really just all film study and just seeing how they set up from their stance, you can really tell before the ball is snapped, from their back foot, vertical set or jump set and all that.
“Just the small tips I’ve learned to try and tell him, but Aidan’s a dog. Aidan watches film himself, but the small knowledge I can give to him, I wish will help him out.”
Paye had four sacks last season with the Colts in 15 games played. Most analysts projected it would take him a few years out of Michigan before putting it all together. Hutchinson already sees things to emulate as he enters his rookie season.
“You watch the tape, he’s so strong, so physical, so fast out there,” Hutchinson said. “Just picking up little things that he does technique-wise, whether that was stance, whether that was get-off, something like that. I was always looking up to Kwity because he’s a really great guy and we always got along.”
