The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1477128
SEPTEMBER 2022 THE WOLVERINE 63 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE D etroit Lions rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson made his re‑ turn to Lucas Oil Stadium — the site of U‑M's 2021 Big Ten title game win over Iowa — and saw a familiar face, India‑ napolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye. Back in 2019 and 2020, Hutchinson and Paye made up the Wolverines' edge rusher duo dubbed "Salt and Pepper." Paye was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All‑ Rookie team after posting 32 tackles and 4 sacks in 15 outings. U‑M's highest‑drafted defender of all time, Hutchinson was selected No. 2 overall by Detroit this past spring. In the days leading up to the Lions' 27‑26 preseason win over the Colts Aug. 20, the two teams held a joint prac‑ tice at the latter's facilities in Westfield, Ind. That gave Hutchinson and Paye an opportunity to catch up, share some tips and even hold a media session together. "Before we actually came here, I was asking what type of moves he was going to work on this year and what he's look‑ ing for," Paye said. "And from there, just telling him what I had learned from last year, my first year in the league, how these O‑linemen punch. "It's really just all film study and just seeing how they set up from their stance. You can really tell before the ball is snapped, from their back foot, verti‑ cal set or jump set and all that. "Just the small tips I've learned to try and tell him, but Aidan's a dog. Aidan watches film himself, but the small knowledge I can give to him, I wish will help him out." "I think back at Michigan when we were together more — he was a great leader," Hutchinson said of Paye. "Also, you watch the tape. He's so strong, so physical and so fast out there. I was just picking up little things that he does technique‑wise, maybe whether that was stance, whether that was get‑off, something like that. I was always look‑ ing up to Kwity, because he's a great guy, and then we really always got along." The two revealed that they hadn't talked much recently due to Hutchin‑ son accidentally blocking Paye's num‑ ber. They were texting each other, but Hutchinson thought Paye wasn't re‑ sponding on purpose. "I was texting him," Hutchinson ex‑ plained with a laugh. "If you look at our messages, I had about five messages to him. I was like, 'Dude, Kwity's ghosting me right now.'" Neither played in the preseason game, but Hutchinson had a strong debut the week prior. In the Lions' last‑minute, 27‑23 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the 2021 unanimous All‑American notched a tackle and a stop for loss, respectively, on his first two snaps. TOM BRADY RETURNS TO BUCCANEERS TRAINING CAMP Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady has had an unusual offsea‑ son. Back in January, he retired from football, only to announce his return for his 23rd professional season 40 days later. This training camp, he stepped away from the team due to "personal things" Aug. 11, before coming back to practice Aug. 22. According to ESPN.com, this marked the first time the seven‑time Super Bowl champion has taken a significant amount of time away from his team during training camp or the preseason during his entire career. His absence, while unprecedented, was approved by the team. His time away from the squad led to speculation on if he will indeed play a 23rd season, but that was put to bed when he returned to the facility. Com‑ Kwity Paye of the Indianapolis Colts had a mini-reunion with his former U-M teammate and fellow edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson at the Colts' joint scrimmage with the Detroit Lions Aug. 17. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Former Michigan Defensive Ends Reunite