Mike Elston talks Michigan freshmen defensive linemen – a ‘great, great addition’
The Michigan front seven has been as good as any he’s been around, U-M defensive line coach Mike Elston said Wednesday, and it appears there’s no drop-off in sight. In addition to the underclassmen already producing, including stud tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, there are several true freshmen waiting in the wings to contribute in the near future.
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As it stands now, they’ll probably have to wait their turn. The Wolverines are deep and talented across the front line, from the interior to the edges. Three Michigan freshmen in particular, though, have stood out and made their presence known in early practices.
“Starting from the outside, Cam Brandt’s been a great, great addition,” Elston said. “He can do a lot of different things. He’s played from the stand up two-point, three-point in our base defense and given us really good depth in there. He’s got some really good snaps over the last couple games … doing well on special teams.”
They’re recruiting size across the line, the Michigan defensive line coach added, and Brandt fits the bill. He’s 6-4, 277 pounds and should help anchor the front for years to come. They’re all about building that run wall, Elston noted, and it appears they’ve recruited the help they need in that area for the future.
Texan Enow Etta (6-5, 295) is another who has come on over the last several weeks.
“Enow, he’s done a really nice job. Cam’s a little further along with technique and things he might have been coached in high school, and Enow’s catching up quickly because it’s important to him,” Elston continued. “He’s very talented. Those two guys … I have been very pleased with those two guys.”
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On the interior, Michigan has at least another year after this one with both Graham and Grant, and junior Rayshaun Benny is also playing at a high level. But there are others waiting their turn, including one true freshman who has turned heads.
“Trey Pierce — he’s going to be really, really good,” Elston said of the 6-2, 300-pounder. “We’ve been force feeding him, trying to get him out there. He’s played in both games … got a tackle in the last game [a 35-7 Michigan win over UNLV]. He’s really good at block destruction. He needs to work on his pass rush like a lot of incoming freshmen do, but it’s important to him, and he works his tail off. Those three guys have played the most.”
Finally, Michigan freshemen Brooks Bahr and Aymeric Koumba are also improving, Elston said. He praised their work ethic and their progress.
“You’ve got Brooks, who’s a project. We knew he was a project,” Elston said of the Michigan frosh. “He learns well; I think he’s going to pick it up really well, but the other guys were just a little bit further ahead of him in technique. But he will be a really good player down the road.
“Koumba’s a developmental project, as well. He came in from another country, so he’s got to learn some things — play consistent, play physical. He’s got some good talent to him and a good upside, though.”
All will likely make huge strides in the offseason, but for now, the Michigan coaches are extremely pleased with their progress.
