Michigan DT Mazi Smith talks 'state championship' against MSU, fellow standout D-linemen

Michigan Wolverines football (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) still has the Big Ten and national title to play for, while Michigan State is out of contention for both at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the conference. However, bragging rights and a “state championship” is on the line during this weekend’s Saturday night matchup at The Big House, senior defensive tackle Mazi Smith said.

“You look at the history of the games that we’ve played, you look at the history of the teams, the history of the rivalry — and you see why players play harder in this game,” Smith said. “You see why this game is taken more seriously. You see why each team is willing to do whatever it takes to win this game, no matter what.

“It’s a state championship. It’s a championship game that we get to play in the regular season. Who doesn’t want that?”

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A Grand Rapids, Mich., native and East Kentwood product, Smith said the emotions surrounding the Michigan vs. MSU rivalry can “get out of hand if you let it.”

“But personally, I’m not one of the guys that has a great game and is overly emotional,” Smith explained. “You gotta keep your emotions in check and remain calm in the face of adversity, and just understand the mission.”

Smith added that he stays calm by not thinking about the magnitude of the game and instead focusing on each play.

“You train every day for games like this,” the Michigan defender said. “We go hit the sled, hit each other. It’s what you gotta do.

“It’s easy when you think of it as, this rep that I’m about to take is the most important rep that I’m going to take this week. And then you’re thinking the same thing for the next rep and the next rep and the next rep. And then you get to the game, and you’re thinking, this is the most important, this is the most important — because it is. You just gotta live your life a certain way.”

Michigan lost at Michigan State, 37-33, last season, and while the Wolverines want to get “that taste” out of their mouth this weekend, the setback didn’t derail the 2021 Big Ten champs’ season, which speaks to the program’s culture.

“Bend but don’t break,” Smith said of what the response to that game said about the Wolverines. “Never giving up. Always remaining the same in the face of adversity, because everybody always says that adversity shows you, you. When we look in the mirror, we’ve got to like what we see.”

Mazi Smith on practice matchups with Olusegun Oluwatimi, fellow standout D-linemen

Smith, who’s registered 27 tackles, including 2.5 for loss, this season, is one of Michigan’s top defenders from the nose tackle spot. When the Wolverines go “good on good” during practice, he lines up across from one of the top interior offensive lines in the nation, featuring graduate center Olusegun Oluwatimi. Those reps help him prepare for Saturdays.

“It’s like game reps — real game reps,” Smith said. “It’s like going against a guy that you’re going to see, a good center, great center. Iron sharpening iron.

“Me and him have something in common — we’re both the tip of the spear on each side of the ball. We know if we’re playing good, everybody around us will play good.”

Smith is the headliner on the interior of Michigan’s defensive line, but junior Kris Jenkins is also having a great season. He has 26 tackles, including 1.5 stops for loss and 1 sack, with 2 quarterback hurries from his tackle spot.

“They call him the mutant, because when he first got here, he was doing stuff that was, ‘where this dude come from?'” Smith said. “We always knew he was going to be a good player for us; he was a good player for us last year.

“And just his leverage and his strength — and he’s quicker than people think, especially off the ball. You look at the film, most of the time he’s the first guy off the ball, no matter what the situation is. He’s come a long way; he’s playing some really good ball this year.”

Another who’s impressed is Michigan graduate EDGE Eyabi Okie, who transferred in from UT Martin only 17 days before the season. He has 2.5 sacks and 11 pressures on 89 pass-rush snaps.

“He’s home now. He found his home,” Smith said of his Michigan teammate. “He’s just like one of the guys. When you got some of your hardest workers and your best players bringing the team together and being unselfish, that makes everybody play harder. That makes everybody have more fun. He’s a really funny guy, goofy guy. We all get along really well.”