Sherrone Moore believes Trey Pierce has All-Big Ten capability: Michigan DT has 'taken those leaps'

Michigan Wolverines football has six defensive tackles who are slated to play significant roles in 2025. Graduate Rayshaun Benny is the most notable name, having been with the program and having made an impact for years. Fellow grads Damon Payne and Tré Williams are transfer newcomers who have grabbed headlines.

Junior Trey Pierce is setting himself up to have a big season, though, too. The 6-foot-2, 310-pounder logged the fifth-most defensive tackle snaps on the team a season ago (153), registering 7 tackles. He made his first career start and fared well in the 19-13 victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, and that was merely a jumping off point.

“The guy that jumps out the most is a guy that’s been here, Trey Pierce,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said of players across the roster who have impressed this fall camp. “Trey Pierce has really taken those leaps that we needed him to, to be a guy.”

The Chicago native has high hopes for himself, and Moore believes he can accomplish some of his individual goals this season.

“Trey Pierce has taken steps to make himself one of the top D-tackles [on the team] and possibly an All-Big Ten D-tackle,” Michigan’s head coach said. “I remember I was in a defensive line meeting, and they all had their goals written up, and he said that was one of his goals — and he’s taken himself and put himself in position to do that, to be one of the better D-tackles in the conference. I’m really excited to watch Trey.”

Benny — a leader among Michigan’s defensive tackles — has seen it, too, and is expecting a breakout year.

“Really just all around his game,” Benny said of where Pierce has improved. “Not just focusing on one thing. The stuff that used to bother him in the past doesn’t bother him. He doesn’t really get his head hung up on plays. If it’s a good play, good. If it’s a bad play, let’s get the next play and make it good. So, just being able to move on to the next play.

“I talked to Trey, pretty much saying that my junior year was the year I felt like I came into my full self. Just let him know that we have high expectations for him.”

Soon enough, beginning with Saturday’s season-opener against New Mexico, Michigan players will go up against another color jersey. But all month long, graduate center Greg Crippen has noticed Pierce’s improved level of play.

“ When you initially block him, he does a good job of countering and shedding the block,” Crippen said. “Those have been the really big areas of growth. And obviously our defense is really good, so it twists and moves a lot, and I think he does a good job of staying in his gap. Once you stick on him, he does good of shedding and making a play.”

Junior Enow Etta is another who will be in Michigan’s defensive tackle rotation, and he’s coming along nicely heading into the season, too.

“Trey and Enow, they took a big leap the last two weeks of camp,” Benny said. “That’s something I noticed. They were making plays, giving high production.

“That was the best part, being able to see their growth and coming into themselves at the right time. They’re peaking at the right time. Everything coming together — Trey and Enow are the two that stood out the most, just because I was around them and able to see where they came from to where they are now.”