Michigan DE Taylor Upshaw: 'I have a lot to prove'

Michigan has its work cut out for it this offseason in finding to replace the 25 sacks they lose from last year’s defense. The good news is that they have plenty of EDGE rushers who are game for the challenge. Chief among them is fifth-year senior Taylor Upshaw.

His goals for what to prove in his final go-round in a Michigan uniform are simple.

“That I’m one of the best football players in the country,” Upshaw told the media on Tuesday.

He continued: “I have all the intangibles to be one of the most versatile players in the country. I can pass rush from a three-technique, play the interior or the edge or drop into coverage. … I can do it all.”

There are no alternative options other than stepping up and filling the role that is needed on Michigan’s defense. Upshaw embraces that challenge and wants to prove himself as one of the leaders on that side of the ball.

“It’s mandatory [to establish myself],” he said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity that I’m going to have and am excited to show everybody what I can do.”

Reloading the Michigan pass rush

Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo will be sorely missed on the Michigan defense, but life goes on and the Big Ten Champions must reload.

“Those guys had a big impact on our football team,” Upshaw said. “But we have a lot of people who are going to come back and fill their roles.

“We’re still here. Credit to those guys. When they had their opportunity, they went off with it. They did a lot for our football team. They are gone and not here with the program anymore. We have a lot of good football players. That’s how it always has been at the University of Michigan. It has always been the next man up. All the players that had to wait for their time, they are ready.”

Michigan’s star pass rush duo from last season may be gone, but their fingerprints remain. Upshaw said they have been watching film of their old teammates and he personally stays in touch.

“Those guys were elite when they were here,” he said. “We still have film on them. I still talk to them, so definitely a lot to learn from them. Especially if I am going to step into one of their roles. They have a lot to offer.”

From Macdonald to Minter

Michigan is in a defensive coordinator transition with Jesse Minter replacing Mike Macdonald. The hire was made to keep philosophical tendencies in place, but each man is different. Despite that, Minter is drawing praise for his work with the defense so far.

“They have different personalities but are really cool guys,” Upshaw said. “I am really happy with Minter and how he came in here and presented himself. Both similar, though.”

He continued: “He’s a calm dude. Collected dude. He’s nice. I really like his demeanor. He’s been calm when I’m around him. He doesn’t seem like there is a lot of hectic stuff going on. He is really under control.”

Upshaw has a new defensive line coach this season in Mike Elston, who made the jump from Notre Dame to Michigan in January. There has been plenty of technical work going on behind the scenes.

“Fixing up my technique and my craft,” Upshaw said. “He is really big on the details, so that is something that you always want to keep working on, and we are. Putting all the pieces together.”

Elston replaces Shaun Nua, who left to join Lincoln Riley’s staff at USC. The styles are different so far, but Upshaw feels the benefits of it.

“Shaun Nua was a big energy guy,” he said. “There are a lot of benefits to that. Coach Elston is more of a technician. He is not the same type of energy, but it is more technical with him.”

Upshaw’s experience, developing leadership

Michigan’s defense is young and inexperienced. Going through battles for a few seasons is where the seeds of leadership are planted. Upshaw is having the best experience in spring football of his career because has been through it before.

“For me, it is a fifth-year and a lot easier to handle compared to when I first came in,” he said. “The older you get and more comfortable you get, it is more fun to play football. I am really enjoying my spring and enjoying my time with my teammates and taking it all in.”

Upshaw’s goals for the spring are to continue to build that trust with his team in order to let them know he can be relied on.

“I want to improve my craft and get closer with my teammates,” he said. “I want them to know they can trust me and I have their back. Want us to be the best football team in the country.”

Upshaw and fellow pass rusher Mike Morris are expected to start in place of Ojabo and Hutchinson, respectively. Morris is the more vocal of the two, but a tone is being set by the next in line at Michigan.

“You have to earn everybody’s respect in the building,” he said. “To have that role as the vocal leader, everybody has to have your back and believe what you are saying. You have to live that life if you’re going to say it and you have to back it up.”

Maintaining Michigan’s championship culture

One of the biggest questions of the offseason is how Michigan can find a way to keep the culture and on-field success it had in 2021 rolling. The message from most players that have spoken publically is that the 2022 Wolverines have not proved anything yet.

“We have a lot of new guys are gonna have to take, including me, they’re gonna have to take on roles they’ve never had,” Upshaw said. “So it’s not like, ‘Oh, we’re good.’ We have a lot to prove. I have a lot to prove. Our teammates have lots to prove and we’re not satisfied. We didn’t win a national championship. That’s something our team wants to do this year. So that’s how you keep focused because we didn’t accomplish everything we wanted to.

“[We were] good year last year, but it’s over with.”

Michigan always inherently has a target on its back, which is something that Upshaw welcomes.

“We are coming off a successful season, but I feel like Michigan has always had that chip on the shoulder,” he said. “We are always going to be doubted. Players stepping into new roles are always going to be doubted. It really just feels like the same atmosphere. [Quarterback] Cade McNamara has done a good job telling everyone to maintain that atmosphere because we are not satisfied.”