The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546004
10 THE WOLVERINE ❱ AUGUST 2026 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan senior defensive tackle Trey Pierce has become a leader on the defense, a spring captain who could earn the honor in the fall, as well. There are high expectations for him and his linemates this year — he discusses that and more in this Q&A. The Wolverine: You were honorable mention All-Big Ten last year after notching 30 tackles. What should fans expect from you this season? Pierce: "They should expect leadership from me, and production. I've spent all offseason working on my pass rush, and I think I'm one of the best run stoppers in the country. Expect an uptick in produc- tion from me." The Wolverine: Your new strength and conditioning coach, Doug Elisaia, has implemented a new workout system. How is it different, and how have you adjusted? What's his style? Pierce: "It's a lot more conditioning, running around a lot more, moving around more. I had no choice but to adapt and to cut down and [reduce] body fat. He's getting us right. He's working us, pushing us to be our best. This is the most running and conditioning we've had since I've been here. He's really pushing us to be our best selves. "He's precise. He's not a yeller, but he's very precise with his words, and he knows how to get the most out of you." The Wolverine: What does it look like during a lifting session? Pierce: "They completely overhauled the weight room, I would say. It's a whole new weight room. They took a bunch of the machines out and put a lot more space in between the racks so that we can do a lot more movement in between the racks. We do a lot more stuff in between the racks." The Wolverine: A lot is going to be asked of you and fellow senior Enow Etta. How ready do you think he is for an expanded role, and what have you seen from Utah transfer Jonah Lea'ea? Pierce: "It's funny hearing you ask that, because when you're at practice with him every day, it's so obvious how good [Etta] is. But he's always been that good. We just had so many older guys in front of us. "Jonah, he's an animal, too. He just gets after it. His motor's in- sane." The Wolverine: You'll get an opportunity to play with your brother, sophomore linebacker and Western Illinois transfer Christian Pierce. What's it been like having him on the team with you? Pierce: "That's been a dream. It's like high school. "I see him every day. He finds his own way, but I see him every day in Schembechler [Hall]." —Chris Balas ❱ Sitting Down With Michigan Football Senior Defensive Tackle Trey Pierce Pierce started all 13 games along the defensive line in 2025 and made 30 tackles, including 1.0 for loss, on his way to being named the team's co-Most Improved Player on Defense. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL / THE WOLVERINE One of the most memorable recruiting stories in recent years came on Nov. 26, 2022, when three-star Cincinnati cornerback Cameron Cal- houn committed to Michigan while on an unof- ficial visit to Ohio State during the Wolverines' 45-23 drubbing of the Buckeyes in Columbus. Calhoun was never offered by OSU but decided to shut down his recruitment after watching Michigan dominate the second half in an epic victory, the program's first at Ohio Stadium since 2000. That wasn't technically a recruiting win over OSU, though, and those have been tough to come by over the years, especially for pros- pects from Ohio. The Wolverines have signed 20 players from Ohio over the last 10 recruiting cycles (2017- 26), and only one of them had a reported offer from OSU: four-star running back Jordan Marshall out of Archbishop Moeller in Cincin- nati. That was a hotly contested recruitment that ended with Marshall spurning the home- state program for Michigan, which has pro- gram legends from Ohio throughout its history, including a pair of Heisman Trophy winners in wide receiver Desmond Howard and defen- sive back Charles Woodson. While he's not in the same category as the other two, graduate student safety Rod Moore has had legendary moments in the winged helmet, highlighted by his game-sealing interception to beat the Buck- eyes in 2023. A Dayton, Ohio, native, Moore was never offered by the Buckeyes but made them regret that decision. In early July, Michigan scored a big recruiting victory over OSU by landing four-star corner- back Monsanna Torbert — a four-star recruit out of Cincinnati (Ohio) Princeton, who ranks as the No. 70 overall player in the nation per Rivals. The Buckeyes had offered and pushed for his pledge but couldn't close the deal. Here's a look at Michigan's players from Ohio over the last 10 years, and Torbert standing as the lone commit from the state in the 2027 class thus far. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN RECRUITING IN OHIO Class U-M Recruits From Ohio 2027 CB Monsanna Torbert* 2026 RB Jonathan Brown, LB Aden Reeder 2025 QB Chase Herbstreit 2024 OL Luke Hamilton, DL Ted Hammond, RB Jordan Marshall, OL Ben Roebuck 2023 CB Cameron Calhoun, LB Jason Hewlett, DE Breeon Ishmail, CB DJ Waller Jr. 2022 None 2021 S Rod Moore 2020 None 2019 TE Erick All, OL Zach Carpenter, OL Nolan Rumler, WR Quintel Kent, DE Gabe Newburg 2018 None 2017 OL/TE Joel Honigford, OL James Hudson, P Brad Robbins *Verbal commitment but not signed