Michigan Wolverines Football: Mattison Sees Lots Of Dad In Aidan Hutchinson
Michigan defensive line coach Greg Mattison hasn’t coached many sons of his former players — in fact, he said freshman defensive end Aidan Hutchinson might be the first. The 6-7 Hutchinson is much bigger than his father, Chris — an early 1992 All-American and co-captain at U-M — but Mattison learned long ago that size isn’t everything.
Mattison had just arrived at Michigan from Texas A&M in 1992 when he first got a look at Chris Hutchinson.
“I know one thing, his father was one heck of a football player,” Mattison said of Aidan. “It’s kind of ironic, I had just come from A&M where we had some great big first-round guys, a wrecking crew defense.
“I got to Michigan here and I was looking at the defensive line saying, ‘Where are all these guys?’ I was looking for 6-6 guys, there’s all of a sudden Chris.”
He left several years later thinking the 6-2 standout might have been the best lineman he’d ever coached.
“He had intelligence, technique, strength, desire, all the things that make a great defensive lineman,” Mattison remembered.
The mannerisms between father and son are extremely similar, down to the look of determination on their faces in the trenches. Mattison wasn’t ready to elevate Aidan to dad’s level just yet or say he’s ahead of schedule — which several teammates have said — but he knows he has a lot to work with in the youngster.
“I don’t know that he was recruited to be ahead of schedule," the coach said. "I know one thing, though, when we recruited him, he signed with us and we knew he was coming here, we were very, very excited about it. He’s very mature, very intelligent, obviously comes from unbelievable stock. That family is off the charts, and not just the father who I had the fortune to have a chance to coach, but the mom, the sisters … they’re off the charts.
“He’s part of that. I think that’s one thing that’s helped him … we always talk about that bar. I think you’ll find that bar in his home was very high, academically and athletically. He agreed a long time ago to that, and that’s why he’s doing what he’s doing.”
In short, he’s his dad … only taller.
“Aidan has a lot of that in him. That’s the other part,” Mattison said. “The good thing is he has six more inches. He’s got a great future.”
NOTES
• Junior Carlo Kemp’s move inside has been great for both the line and for Kemp. Mattison said he wasn’t surprised by Kemp’s success given how hard he’s worked.
“I was expecting that,” he said. “You don’t work as hard as he has since he’s been here, don’t make the gains he’s made in the weight room and invest as much as he has, and not have good things happen. I’m really happy he’s been playing the way he’s been playing.”
• Sophomore tackle Aubrey Solomon continues to work to get back after undergoing surgery for a meniscus injury in his knee.
“He’s doing everything he’s supposed to be doing. I’ll be excited when he is cleared, but he’s doing very well,” Mattison said. “He’s working hard, and our strength staff is doing a great job with him, our trainers are doing a great job with him. He's just going along with the process.
“I don’t know what the timeline is … I never question what that is. Just seeing him in my meetings, to see him working out, he’s done well. He’s good. That’s part of football. He’s done everything he’s supposed to be doing, and that’s all you can ask of him.”
• Sophomore end Kwity Paye, injured in last week's game, is fine and has been practicing, Mattison said. He took “30 or 40 reps” Tuesday.
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