In the Trenches: Returning Hutchinson Confident, 'Fired Up to Get Out There'
3/4/2021 8:30:00 AM | Football, Features
In this week's edition of "In the Trenches," Jon Jansen sits down with Aidan Hutchinson to discuss his decision to return to school, his impressions of the new-look defensive staff and scheme, his growth as a football player, and the identity of the Wolverines' defensive line.
By Brian Boesch
The University of Michigan football team will feature many new faces in 2021, but one familiar player and second-generation Wolverine is back for another season in the maize and blue. Defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson elected to hold off his professional aspirations to return to Ann Arbor. Important decisions like that are multi-faceted, but one factor stood out most of all.
"The main one was just coming back for this team and being a leader for these guys," Hutchinson said on this week's edition of In the Trenches. "We had a disappointing season last year, going 2-4. That's unacceptable. I want to be a big part of the reason of our comeback ... and lead these guys on the right path to success."
Hutchinson is nearing the end of his path back from the ankle fracture that ended his 2020 season early. Though he has not participated in full during the early stages of spring practices, the Plymouth, Mich., native is getting work in via individual drills.
Despite limited work on the field, Hutchinson has benefited from his conversations with the Wolverines' staff. He has enjoyed the blend of returning staff members, including "the best coach I've ever had" in defensive line coach Shaun Nua, with high-energy first-year coaches.
"Being back for my senior year, I've already learned so much, and that's props to our new coaching staff," Hutchinson said. "All these fresh faces and new minds have shown me and taught me a lot more than I've ever known about football."
As preparations continue for the season, Hutchinson has been impressed with the defensive line, one that has its core principles firmly established.
"Our identity is our aggression and our mindset," Hutchinson said. "We're going to destroy you this play, the next one and the next one after that.
"I really feel confident with this [defensive] line, especially with this new coaching staff, new techniques. I'm just fired up to get out there."
Michigan fans are fired up that Hutchinson will be back out there, donning the winged helmet in 2021.
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