Trey Pierce played 153 snaps for the Michigan football defense in 2024, and the defensive tackle hopes to establish himself into a bigger role with the Wolverines this fall.
The former three-star prospect faces a crowded room vying for playing time — a group led by Rayshaun Benny, Tré Williams and Damon Payne. But after learning behind the likes of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant in 2024, in addition to Kris Jenkins in the years before that, Pierce is prepared for a bigger role. His 38 defensive snaps in an encouraging performance against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl attest to his collegiate readiness.
Pierce joined Jon Jansen on "Inside Michigan Football" this week to discuss all that and more. Here's what he said:
Trey Pierce on playing in Michigan's defensive tackle room:
It's super fun because you got that constant competition, but you also have a lot of guys who you can learn from. We've got a lot of older guys in that room. You've got a lot of guys who can just flat out play. We probably have like six guys who could start anywhere else in the country in the D-tackle room. So it's pretty fun.
... [Competition] is intense, but that's what you come here for. You come to Michigan, you know you're going to be around good D-tackles. It makes everybody else better in the room. I think it's fun.
On what he learned from Michigan's excellent DTs in previous seasons:
How to be a pro. When I was getting recruited, Mazi Smith was here, so I got to learn from him a little bit. But then I came in, Kris Jenkins, second round. You get a KG, Mason, first round. So really just how to be a pro, how they carry themselves, how they walk around the facility, how they take care of their bodies, things like that.
On preparing for Year 3 at Michigan:
I know what to do, actually. I know what I'm preparing for. I know what I'm getting into and have my routine set, and I know what I need to work on.
Freshman year, you think you're good. You think, cause you're the best from where you're from. And so you think, 'I gotta work on this, gotta work on that,' obviously, but you really don't know what you're good at and what you're not good at at this level. I think that's a difference, knowing what I have to work on.
… [In college], foot speed is much faster. Things are moving faster. Plays are happening faster. Gaps are opening up quicker. The O-linemen are more athletic. It was definitely the speed. I feel like strength-wise, I was kind of okay as a freshman, but that speed is different.
On how he's making sure he earns a bigger role this fall:
A lot of endurance. It's the difference between playing 15 snaps a game to hopefully like 25, 30 snaps a game. So, endurance. Pass rush is something I always need to work on. Game is always evolving that way.
On what he's learned from incoming transfer Tré Williams:
I learned a lot from Tré this spring. He uses leverage so well and he's a pit bull out there. He's stronger than everybody 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 two extra years in the weight room. You can learn a lot from those guys. Like Benny's pass rush, and Dame, he's another guy with leverage. Learning things like that from those guys, it's been invaluable.
On how he works on improving his technique:
I get super specific, especially with Coach Espo out there and Coach Phee — Coach Phee is super technical. Every little thing, a hand placement by the inch, foot placement, footwork. The technical side of football is more important than weight room. If you play with leverage, you play with hands, you can have 100 pounds less on your bench press than the guy and I think you can outplay them. Obviously super focused on that, really dialed in on that.
Trey Pierce on the 2025 goals he set for himself:
I want to play as much as possible. That's a big goal for me. I want to win a Big Ten championship. Ohio State, obviously Michigan State, obviously. Natty — that's the big goal.
But for me, I want put myself in conversations that I think I deserve to be in. Coming into next year, I want to be one of the top D-tackles in the country. I want to show I'm one of those elite guys in the country. That's my personal goal.
Story photo by Rachel Leggett / MGoBlog.com.