The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1526802
OCTOBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 31 ally just worked, and saw how those guys worked. He put himself in the position he's in now, and I'm really proud of TJ and how he's carried himself, how he's matured, what he's done. He keeps im- pacting the game, and I think he'll just get better and better." The improvement resulted directly from watching and learning, Guy ex- plained. "Obviously, you need to flash on the field, but you have to be there mentally, too," Guy offered. "They're not go- ing to put you on the field if you're not mentally ready to be on the field. You can't be immature in any way. If they see that, they'll take it that you're not ready. Even if you are ready, if you're showing immaturity, it's not going to work out for you." Flash he did, almost from the start. "Oh yeah," Guy said. "I was wrecking practice my whole time here. I definitely didn't have a good practice every prac- tice, but I've been flashing since I was a young guy. But it's practice." Asked to name a chief mentor in those days, Guy didn't hesitate. "David Ojabo," he assured. "Even if it wasn't directly, I just watched him closely every day, to try and do what he did. It really upped my game, just watch- ing him. And he definitely talked to me a couple of times, more on the maturity level part. He said, 'You can't be a little boy.' I remember one time, we were on the phone for like two hours, because I wasn't going to class. He was getting on me. He helped me a lot." Guy made it into 10 games in the Big Ten title season of 2022, his sophomore year. While enjoying the team success, Guy still struggled finding a break- through equal to his expectations. "Sophomore year was harder for me," he noted. "In hindsight, I knew I wasn't totally ready back then, but it was hard, not playing again for another season. It's kind of dark, but I grew from that, took all good things from that situation." Guy performed in 11 games in the na- tional championship season, contribut- ing 10 tackles, including a sack at Michi- gan State, and key special teams play in both College Football Playoff contests. When the smoke cleared, Guy's way into the edge-rushing unit became much more apparent for 2024. "I knew guys were going to the NFL," he said. "I knew they'd need somebody to step up into the rotation, and I knew it was going to be me. I was confident in my ability. I knew what time it was." He's used his time as Michigan's No. 3 edge rusher this fall to post a pair of tack- les against Fresno State and Texas, the latter in a sobering loss that didn't dim Guy's outlook on the season. Nobody likes to lose, but he's used to fighting back. He's convinced the Wolverines will do so throughout the 2024 campaign. "Texas is a national championship contender," he said. "No doubt in my mind. We play them right now, and we know what it's going to be like later on in the season. We've got to keep climbing, keep getting better every day and just improve." One early season highlight involved his stepdad and mother — Darrius and Laureen C. South — and younger brother Justice being able to see him play mean- ingful snaps. "They mean the world to me," Guy said. "They came, and it was just so cool to see them in the stands. They don't get to travel and come to games a lot. It was my first time, playing for real. It's so cool seeing them come to games, come to support me." And his own confidence? It's always been there. But it's gaining momentum now, helped along by two of his fellow edge rushers — senior Josaiah Stewart and junior Derrick Moore. "I was wrecking spring ball, wreck- ing camp," Guy insisted. "I just felt like I couldn't be touched. I've got Josaiah and Derrick to lean on and ask questions of, watch them and steal things from them as well. I feel like when I'm executing at a high level, it's hard for a tackle. "I've just got to trust in my ability and my technique more in the actual game it- self. I've got to slow down a little bit. My first time, second time out there, I'm still a little antsy. When I slow down, I know I have all the ability, all the technique. I trained for this. I've just got to trust my- self a little more. "I feel like I'm the most dangerous person in the stadium, every time I'm there. I know maybe up to right now I haven't shown that, but I believe in that. I believe I can execute at a high level like that. There's no telling how far I can go from here — I believe I can do all things." ❑ Massachusetts To Ann Arbor Pipeline Longtime Michigan fans think of Jamie Morris, standout running back of the 1980s and afternoon sports talk radio host on WTKA in Ann Arbor, when it comes to Massachusetts imports to Ann Arbor. It's been 40 years since Morris left Ayer, Mass., to become Michigan's all-time leading rusher in those days. But The Old Colony State didn't stop sending good ones to Michigan. Here are five of Michigan's best from the state in the last 10 seasons. 1. Zak Zinter (2020-23) — A captain and unanimous first-team All-American in the national championship season of 2023, Zinter had his season end amid tears and cheers when he broke his leg against Ohio State. The Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy semifinalist from North Andover, Mass., then rooted his crew on the rest of the way, capping his career with a national title. He's now perform- ing for the NFL Cleveland Browns. 2. Mike Sainristil (2019-23) — The Everett, Mass., product became a first-team All-America defensive back in 2023, helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. The two-time captain picked off a team-high 6 passes on the way to the title, returning 2 for touchdowns. He's now in his rookie season with the NFL's Washington Commanders. 3. Maurice Hurst II (2013-2017) — This burly defensive tackle out of Westwood, Mass., made a big impact for Michigan for several seasons. As a fifth-year senior, he was a consensus All-American, consensus All-Big Ten performer and team MVP. He contributed 134 tackles over the course of his career, including 12.5 sacks and 33 tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles with 1 recovery. He plays for the NFL's Cleveland Browns. 4. Sean McKeon (2016-19) — The tight end out of Dudley, Mass., made 60 catches with 6 touch- downs in his Michigan career. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition three times and made his longest catch of 41 yards in the 2019 Ohio State game. 5. Kalel Mullings (2020-present) — Mullings switched from linebacker to running back earlier in his Michigan career and has been asserting himself strongly in recent years. The West Roxbury, Mass., product rushed for 222 yards in the national championship season and paced the Wolverines with 92 yards on 15 carries in this season's opener against Fresno State. — John Borton