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A jersey number change for a Michigan football defender

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•07/30/24•

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Michigan Wolverines football defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was with the Baltimore Ravens for 10 seasons from 2012-21. (Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)
Michigan Wolverines football defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was with the Baltimore Ravens for 10 seasons from 2012-21. (Photo by Lon Horwedel / TheWolverine.com)

Michigan Wolverines football unveiled its brand-new locker room this week ahead of Wednesday’s start to fall camp. The updated roster will be released soon, and a notable change will be the jersey number of sophomore defensive lineman Enow Etta.

With a picture of his locker posted on his Instagram story, Etta revealed that he has changed from No. 96 to No. 17.

Last season, No. 17 on defense was worn by EDGE Braiden McGregor, who owned those digits since he joined the program in 2020. Michigan has a No. 17 on offense this season in junior tight end Marlin Klein.

This spring, Etta moved from EDGE to defensive tackle, but the television screen attached to his locker lists him as an ‘EDGE,’ so it appears possible that he’s set to move back to the outside.

“I’ve played a little bit of EDGE, but I’ve been focusing more inside,” Etta said after the Wolverines’ final spring practice. “We’re really deep at EDGE, so that’s one of the reasons they moved me inside.”

Etta, who redshirted in 2023 by playing in just three games, said in April that he began the offseason around 265 pounds but gained over 20 pounds, up to 287.

“I just want to have as much lean mass as possible,” Etta said. I don’t really have a number. Any weight I can take on a double team and not get thrown around, that’s the perfect weight for me, I guess.”

Etta said he was looking forward to Michigan’s summer training cycle under head strength and conditioning coach Justin Tress.

“Coach Tress, he’s a great guy,” Etta said. “I knew him last year when Herb was here. He’s done a great job keeping things the way they’re supposed to be, keeping the guys in check. So he’s on my ass every day. Sometimes in a 6 a.m. lift, I’ll be coming in a little tired, but he always makes sure to get the best out of me. He told me this summer is going to be huge for me, so I’m just ready to work every day.”

Michigan is looking to develop depth along the defensive line, and Etta could factor into the rotation.

“Enow had a really good spring, so I’m excited to see him play,” defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said this summer.

Martindale said this week that fall camp will be a big determiner of how the rotation will come together.

“We’re going to find out in training camp who’s going to get a lot of playing time early, as far as the rotational type guys,” Martindale said. “We’ve had a lot of guys that had a great summer.”

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