Michigan sophomore defensive end Rashan Gary played behind NFL talent last year, but now there’s nothing stopping him from emerging into the force everyone believes he can be.
Gary notched only one sack a year ago, but he took the teaching of his mentors (Chris Wormley, Taco Charlton) like a veteran.
“Worm, taco got me ready for now. I’ve got to show them once they look at film that I did take that extra step, and show my coaches,” he said. “I just can’t wait to show them. They are my big brothers, showed me the way. I want to let them know that I appreciate everything they did, like it’s my time to let me show you.
“I feel excited. We’ve got to prove to the nation what Michigan has and what the season will be. I feel like ever since last season ended, going into this season, we have chips on our shoulder to just keeping it going and attacking.”
His preparation and film study for Florida has been off the charts, to the point that he went so far as to say, “watching other people’s tape doesn’t really impress me.” He’s studied the Gators’ film, looking for their favorite runs, how they protect, etc., and knows tendencies of all of the three quarterbacks the Wolverines might face.
“I feel as a defense, Coach [Don] Brown and Coach [Mattison], all the defensive coaches, have us prepared,” he said.
It’s not just him and his group, he added. He listed several units and individuals who have made strides this spring:
The offensive line: ‘Wow. From the first day of camp to now, the offensive line is a very improved group. Iron sharpens iron, and we’ve just been going at it all day. I feel like the trenches of the team is the foundation.
Freshman tackle Aubrey Solomon: “Ooh … that kid’s a monster. A monster. Reuben Jones is coming along, Michael Dwumfour. I could keep going, we’ve got so much talent on the defensive line. They’ve just been learning and improving. They’re hungry, learning the playbook and their assignments, things like that.
“Mike is my brother. I played in high school with him, and I had to stay in his head going into the offseason. He took my criticism, the coaches criticism, what he expected out of himself and I saw it going in the offseason and how he attacked it.”
On the secondary’s improvement. “No doubt about it. No doubt about it. When we’re getting pressure on the quarterback, a little second they’re off and throw it up, it’s intercepted and I’ve got to go block somebody. There isn’t a day I don’t see that, so they’ve been getting better, growing and growing.”
On fifth-year senior tackle Maurice Hurst: “He’s going to be unblockable. He knows it, I know it … the whole defense knows it. He’ll do what he’s got to do, and nobody can block him in the nation, I truly believe that.”
On redshirt junior nose guard Bryan Mone: “Oooohweee! Mone in the middle. Man, I’m happy he’s my nose. He comes off the ball with so much strength, power some of the offensive linemen don’t like going against him. I like to have him push plays outside so I can make them. It makes my job easier.
Gary and the rest of the team are tired of hitting each other, ready to face a real opponent. Florida is up first Saturday.
“I’m anxious. I just want to go,” he said. “We’ve been beating up on each other so long, I’m just ready to take it out on somebody else.
“I’ve just been waiting for it since the first day of camp started. We are getting there day by day. I feel like Saturday is just going to push us an inch closer to where we’re supposed to be.”
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