Michigan defensive coordinator Don Brown has been coaching for decades, and he's led some of the best defenses and players in the country in many years.

He believes one of his best is yet to come.

Sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary, last year's No. 1 player nationally, didn't make a huge impact as a freshman, but that should change this year.

“He's the best I’ve ever seen,” Brown said Saturday. “Just running around ... he's the best I’ve ever seen. The sky is the limit. The good thing is I think he understands that there is a lot on his shoulders. He’s got [line] coach [Greg] Mattison every day. It’s all good.

“He is the best I have ever seen combining speed, strength, change of direction, and the mental curve. He’s unbelievable."

The 6-5, 290-pounder has emerged as a leader on the line, and he's humble and committed to being the player everyone expects him to be, Brown continued. The veterans on the team admire him for one big reason.

“I’ll tell you why ... because they know he works his tail off,” Brown said. “If you’re a big mouth and you don’t work very hard, then guys aren’t going to take you very seriously. But then they see how hard he works, and usually when he opens his mouth it’s with purpose, and when leadership comes form within, you have a real chance.

"He worked the camp with us today. We had a nice camp, and just the way he treats the campers, the instruction, one-on-one. There's no airs ... he's a humble guy. Guys that have kind of been through what he's been through in the recruiting, you guys know. Sometimes you've got to pop their head back down and get them re-humbled. But he's just not one of those guys. He just goes about his business every day. The way he treated people today is special."

Potential captain material down the road, Brown said.

Gary notched 24 tackles, five for loss and a sack last year, but his coach expects him to take a huge leap.

"Not only is he a great player, but he's also a tremendous young man to be around," Brown said. "Every single day, he's the same. I marvel at how he carries himself on a day-to-day basis."