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Junior safety Josh Metellus made his first career start as a freshman in Michigan’s 2017 Orange Bowl game against Florida State in place of an injured Jabrill Peppers.
The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native has come a long way since then, and now as a junior, sees himself as someone the younger players can look up to.
“I consider myself a leader out there,” Metellus affirmed. “A lot of the young guys on the team really looked up to me, so I try to be there for them.
“The game has gotten slower and faster for me [since that Orange Bowl] at the same time. I’m seeing things faster now, but at the same time, it’s slowed down. I know the plays a lot better now and find myself screaming them out — if I see a slant coming, I let everyone know. Having been there before and watching film is what helps me see those things before others do.
“[Senior safety] Tyree [Kinnel] has been in the secondary even longer than I have — we work together, and if he sees something, he lets me know.”
Another veteran on Michigan’s defense that Metellus is more familiar with than anyone else is junior linebacker Devin Bush.
The two attended Flanagan High School together in Pembroke Pines [along with redshirt sophomore linebacker Devin Gil], and came to Ann Arbor together in the same recruiting class.
Metellus gave an inside look at Bush, and how he feels his teammate — and lifelong friend — has grown.
“I’ve known him my whole life, and I can tell he’s become more mature and more of a leader,” the junior safety explained. “The more I see him grow, the more I see him climb that latter.
“His dad [Devin Bush Sr.] was a great football player and everybody always compares Devin to his dad, so I feel like that’s where he gets that chip on his shoulder.
“When we were in high school, he never would listen to the outside noise. He only listened to the people around us, because those were the people who mattered.”
Seeing as how they go up against them every day in practice, those in U-M’s secondary have had the perfect view of how much the Wolverine receivers have progressed.
Metellus revealed that one wideout in particular has caught his eye so far — and it’s not someone you’d expect.
“It’s a great competition between those guys,” he exclaimed. “They’re a lot more aggressive, and are more disciplined when it comes to catching the ball. They’re more mature now. One of them — [redshirt freshman] Jake McCurry — has really shown a lot of improvement from last season. He’s the one standing out to me right now.”
The receivers aren’t the only position on offense that has improved though.
“The quarterback competition has been great too,” Metellus said. “I love what I’m seeing out of them. I also see a lot more discipline and aggression on the offensive line.”
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