Trey Pierce is making strides in Michigan’s loaded D-line room, learning from some of the best to ever do it along the way. Hear what he had to recently say about the group’s intense competition and close-knit brotherhood:
Defensive tackle Trey Pierce is embracing every moment of his development at Michigan.
The rising junior recently joined Jon Jansen on In the Trenches this week, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at what’s happening inside Michigan’s defensive tackle room. It’s clear the Wolverines are shaping up to be as-advertised at the position.
“It’s super fun because you got that constant competition, but you also got a lot of guys who you can learn from, especially we have a lot of older guys in that room,” Pierce said. “You got a lot of guys who can just flat-out play. We probably have six guys who could start anywhere else in the country in the D-tackle room. It’s fun.
“It’s intense, but that’s what you come here for. You come to Michigan, you know you’re gonna be around good D-tackles. It makes everybody else better in the room. I think it’s fun — I find it fun.”
The 6-foot-2, 315-pounder has benefitted from these types of environments in the past, sharing the same locker room as some of the NFL’s top DL prospects. That includes first-round picks Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and second-rounder Kris Jenkins — all of whom played huge roles in Michigan’s national championship run.
“Really just how to be a pro,” Pierce said when asked what he took away from those guys. “When I was getting recruited, Mazi Smith was here, so I got to learn from him a little bit. And then I came in, it was Kris Jenkins, a second-rounder. You get KG, Mason, first round. Really just how to be a pro, how they carried themselves, how they walk around the facility, how they take care of their bodies, things like that. I learned a lot from those guys.”
That learning hasn’t stopped. Despite their own aspirations and playing time battles, Pierce says the current veterans have helped shape his approach to the game. In particular, he credited transfers Tré Williams (Clemson) and Damon Payne Jr. (Alabama), along with fifth-year senior Rayshaun Benny.
“I learned a lot from Tré this spring,” Pierce said. “He uses leverage so well, and he’s a pitbull out there. He’s just stronger than everyone else out there. So, knowing how to use leverage and angles and stuff like that, he’s so good at things like that.
“Same with Dame and Benny. They’re both just two extra years in the weight room. You can learn a lot from those guys. Benny, pass rush. And Dame, he’s another guy with leverage. Learning things like that from those guys has been invaluable.”
The competition may be deep, but so is the mutual respect. Michigan isn’t just building a dominant defensive line rotation, it is building upon the same culture the unit has thrived on in recent years. Don’t be surprised if this group runs it back as one of college football’s best.