In the Trenches 591 - Enow Etta Transcript
6/17/2026 8:02:00 AM | MGoBlue Podcasts
[Music builds]
Jeff Laurence • 00:06
Welcome to the official podcast of Michigan football in the Trenches with Jon Jansen. Presented by Meijer, presenting sponsor of the twenty twenty six Michigan football season and proud supporter of hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest. Nobody covers Michigan football better than the two time captain, national champion and Michigan athletics hall of honor inductee.
Enow Etta • 00:28
Things that we do, I feel like not a lot of guys in the can do at a high level and I think that's why he trusts us and I think that's why he thinks highly of us because I feel like the guys in the room, even the younger guys, like they're catching on.
Jeff Laurence • 00:42
This is in the Trenches presented by Meyer. Once again, here's Jon Jansen.
Jon Jansen • 00:49
Joined now by a gentleman that's going to be a senior on the defensive line. And coach Hill has talked about an elite performance by these defensive tackles and that is Enow Etta, going into his senior year. Multiple years of eligibility left. Enow, when you hear your coach talk about these defensive tackles are going to be what we lean on, how does that, how do you respond to those type of comments?
Enow Etta • 01:17
I mean, for me the biggest thing is just living up to the expectation. I mean, ever since I've been here, you know, the D tackles have been people to lean on. You know, we had the natty here, we had six guys that coach Minter was leaning on. The last two years, you know, it's been that same thing. And you know, you come to Michigan, you always, I came here because of the D line, you know, so you hear the D line, so it feels good to be honest. It feels good to be have the trust of the coaches. And two, it feels good to finally step into that role of being someone to be leaning on, you know, because I think that's, you know, every D lineman's dream when you come to a place like this, like, you know, it's the type of situation where when great power comes great responsibility, you know, so like I know what I have to be for this team and I'm working every day, you know, to get towards that.
Enow Etta • 02:04
And I know that, you know, guys like me, Trey, Jonah, like what we do, you know, really gets the defense going and I think, you know, that's going to be probably the catalyst of our year.
Jon Jansen • 02:19
When you mentioned it in regards to just, hey, when a coaching staff trusts you the way that they do, it's a new staff, new position, coaches, new coordinator, how do you build that trust?
Enow Etta • 02:33
I think the biggest thing is just showing up. To be honest, like before we even had a practice, like we were in the weight room, the coaches were all there. And I think that's another thing this staff has done that's great is that they're very involved. Like when we had the spring, you know, like six AM runs, the whole coaching staff was there. So you see that they get to see you work before you even put a helmet on, you know, and I think that is very important. But I think the biggest thing is just showing up when we're in the meeting room. Coach calls on you, do you know what you're doing? You know, you have to build that trust because they just got here. But it's not like we're like we're getting to know each other as we go along, you know, because the season doesn't wait for anybody. The practices we have, I mean that's literally, you just have to show up.
Enow Etta • 03:14
Like, you know, like, I think that's, I would say that's kind of like pro style in the way because I mean you never, you've been to the NFL. Like coaches come and go, you know, so it's like my career coaches have came and gone, you know, and I can't speak for, you know, every other school, but that's just how it's been at Michigan. So the biggest thing is just using that to prepare me because I'm a guy that wants to go to the next level. So I mean, that's just how it's going to be. So whatever coach is in the door, you got, you got to show up. And you know, coaches are going to hear things from the previous coaches, you know, like my D line coach, I know we talked to the past coach, so he's walking in with, you know, kind of like a idea, but at the same time you have to not only live up to idea but almost exceed it because you know, the position that we're in, I mean, we can't wait on anything.
Enow Etta • 04:00
Like we won a Natty not even three years ago, you know, and we're not just trying to make that a one time thing, you know, this is Michigan.
Jon Jansen • 04:07
You know, you mentioned with great power comes great responsibility. And I'm going to chop off that last part for just a moment. But that great power, when I see a lot of freshmen come in, I watch you as a freshman come in and you know, coaches and guys that have played the game start to salivate over guys that they look great. Your body has changed so much over the last three years. Now, going on four years. What's been the biggest change for you?
Enow Etta • 04:36
I think the biggest change has Been, to be honest, it's been more of a. It's been more of a mental change. Like I think we had talked last year and it was just about like accepting, like coming out of high school, like I was an edge. Like Michigan was one of the only schools. Coach Harbaugh told me, like, we want you as like a big end. Like you remember Mike Morris. We want you as like a big, like a bigger end. When most schools were like, okay, they just see a three take, you know. And so for me, it was just, you know, it was really the mental battle of accepting because I feel like once you buy in mentally, you know, everything. Because I was, for a long time I was fighting. I was like, man, I'mma just not eat. I'm a skip breakfast so I can stay two hundred seventy, so I can stay as edge. And it's just like once I really bought in, everything just followed, like once I just bought in, like, this is what I'm going to do.
Enow Etta • 05:24
This is what the team needs me to be. You know, for a long time it was like, what I want to do. I want to be at edge. But it was like, if I can help this team as a D tackle. And I, like these last two years been growing pains because this is the first time I've been playing D tackle, you know, like, and I'm young to football. I started high school. I'm not like a lot of guys where I've been playing my whole life. Like, my first year was my freshman, sophomore year of high school, you know. So the main thing was just adjusting, you know. And so I know Michigan has a history of guys switching positions. Like we've all heard, like Mike Sainristil, you know, we like, we see those guys, you know, as younger guys, we slide and look up to those guys. So the main thing was just accepting, like, this is where the team needs me to be and I have to accept I'm going to be there.
Enow Etta • 06:04
So it was really a mental change. Like, this is where the team needs me to be. I'm going to put my best foot forward to do that. And I think I've improved, you know, every year. And I think this is the year where I really got to take that next step because that's where they need me to be, you know.
Jon Jansen • 06:18
So I want to ask you, I want to go back to your seventh and eighth grade self. What was it that prevented you from playing football at that time? Why wasn't it until freshman, sophomore year?
Enow Etta • 06:29
To be honest, it was really two things. For one, it was Kind of a family decision. I really. It was hard for me to put on weight as younger. Like, I was tall, but I wasn't. I had no meat on, you know, the bones. So I was pretty good at basketball for my age. Like, I was one of the better players in Florida, you know, going into middle school. So I was like, I'm six' three. In eighth grade, I had my growth spread. The doctor told me I was gonna grow to six' seven. So I'm like, okay. Basketball's probably where it's at now. Obviously, going into high school, I mean, I was still the same height, so I'm like, okay. And once I started, like, really getting into my body, like, starting to put on muscle naturally, like, I think my dad was like, okay, you know, because I was. I was always read. Like, I had injuries as a kid, so he was like, dude, you're gonna go out there and get messed up.
Enow Etta • 07:15
You got no muscle. So once I started naturally putting it on, he was like, you know, like, go give it a shot. And on top of that, we had moved to a new state going into high school. So I was like, what's the quickest way to get to know the dudes that go here? Like, probably join the football team, you know, and that summer, the football team was training when I was touring the school. So I'm like, okay, let me just. I'm going to this school. Let me just join that. And, you know, after that, you know, the rest, you know, was history. So.
Jon Jansen • 07:43
Can you still hoop?
Enow Etta • 07:44
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, the problem is, you know, my prime hooping, you know, that was like, two hundred forty, two hundred fifty, you know, so I'm about fifty pounds away from that. So I won't say the same product is on the field, but I've gone to the IM with, you know, like, Jyaire Hill, Nate Marshall, some of those guys, and, you know, we put on a little show. But I won't say, you know, I'm as good as I used to be, you know, I'm not practicing every day, you know.
Jon Jansen • 08:06
Okay, you may not be as good as you used to be, but how about to say who's the best Hooper on the team?
Enow Etta • 08:11
Oh, I'm not gonna lie. It might be Nate Marshall. He's really good, but technically, he's not on the team yet. But the young dude, Carter Meadows, I see videos, and he looked legit. I mean, he looked legit. But Nate is the best player I've played with. Probably, like, when we went to the IM and we're playing like he was like, yeah, I guarded him. I saw I couldn't guard him, you know what I'm saying? And when he was on my team, he was scoring every time, you know,
Jon Jansen • 08:40
But I did he talked trash to you on the basketball court?
Enow Etta • 08:42
Oh, yeah. I mean, we all talk trash, you know, that's how it is. That's the competitiveness, you know, basketball, they really bring it out, you know, of everybody, you know.
Jon Jansen • 08:49
So can you still dunk?
Enow Etta • 08:52
You know what? I have not. The last time I dunked was probably last year and I was about three, three ten. So right now I'm about three hundred fifteen, three hundred twenty. So I'm willing to bet that I still can. I haven't tried it because I haven't, you know, it's like I don't want to go do something and get injured on the court. You know, I try to be safe when I'm on the court, but I'm willing to. I mean, this summer I'm going to be playing basketball with my brother when I go back home. So I'm going to get back to you on that. But for now, I'm going to say yes until I prove myself wrong.
Jon Jansen • 09:22
All right. So the last thing I'll ask about basketball is. I know, trust me. I played basketball with these guys when I was playing as well. And you're right about the trash talk.
Enow Etta • 09:32
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 09:33
Who do you talk more trash to your teammates when you're playing? Whether it's here at Schembechler or up at IM, or your brother when you're at home?
Enow Etta • 09:43
You know what I'll have to say my teammates here, my brother is domination. I'm gonna just be honest. So it's not much trash talk. I let the skills talk. But when I'm at the im, I know I'm yelling at Jair a lot. Cause Jair, he's great. And then he'll. He's the type like, million dollar move, ten cent finish. Like he'll do some crazy stuff to get to the rim and then blow the layup. So like I never yelled at somebody as much as I yelled at him, to be honest. I'm. So I'm gonna have to say my teammates just cause of that, you know? Cause it really gets serious. Because when you're at the im, it's us and we're playing against random people. So it's kind of that pride of like, bro, we're football players. Like, we run like, bro, we the best athletes on this court. So if we lose, your teammates start Chucking up bad shots, that ego kick in like, hey man, these are random people.
Enow Etta • 10:31
There's no way we're about to lose to them. So that's really when it kick in. You know what I mean?
Jon Jansen • 10:36
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Jon Jansen • 11:27
And a lot of people will talk about defensive packages and defense coordinators come in with different schemes, right? Linebackers are going to be doing something different. Edges might be doing something different. Certainly the coverage is in the secondary. How much variation is there from what you were a part of the last couple of years in terms of when you saw the defensive tackles or you were playing defensive tackle? How much variation is there in this defense or is it just, hey, I got to blow someone up?
Enow Etta • 11:55
I think, you know, there is a lot of variation, to be honest. I mean, the past three years were pretty much the same scheme because, you know, coach Wink and coach Coach Minter, you know, came from, you know, the same background. But like with coach Hill, from what I've seen this spring, like, I think he likes to move around a lot with the D tackles. Like we're in different kind of positions. Like every play, like one play I'll be a three tech slashing. You know, there's one, there's, you know, a package where like we're moving like across the whole line, you know. So it's like he likes to be, how do I say it? Like he likes to be like variable with us. Like we, he doesn't ask to do a lot, but like if you really, you really kind of have to, you know, do a lot, you have to do a little and a lot at the same time. And I know that's kind of confusing, but I think, you know, people will see once, you know, the season comes around.
Enow Etta • 12:46
Like I would say there is variation just because the things that we do, I feel like not a lot of guys in the country can do at a high level. And I think that's why he trusts us, and I think that's why he thinks highly of us, because I feel like the guys in the room, even the younger guys, like, they're catching on and they can do that. And I feel like he tries his best to put us in situations where, you know, we're going to succeed. And I think we've seen.
Jon Jansen • 13:10
You're going to be thrust into a leadership role this year as a veteran guy, as a guy that a lot is expected of. How do you take on that leadership role and what does it mean to you?
Enow Etta • 13:21
To be honest, it means a lot. I mean, being, you know, like, looking back on my last few years, like, this is the position, like, every guy wants to be in. Like, you want to be in the position where your team is counting on you, you know, and it's like we said, with great power comes great responsibility. I mean, to be honest, if you put me in this role as a freshman, you know, like someone the team was depending on, I would have probably crumbled, to be honest. And I think that's just expanding on, like, how, you know, this place molds you. I can't speak for every other college, but, like, being here, like, it does turn you into a man. Like, I wanted to play so bad freshman year, you know, and it's like when Coach Harbaugh told me he wanted a red shirt, and, you know, it was like, crushed was like, man. But it's like, I look back, and I wasn't ready. You know, my sophomore year, I feel like I deserved a bigger role.
Enow Etta • 14:10
I look back on that. I wasn't ready last year. I feel like I deserved a bigger role. I'm like, man, like, you know, I look back now and I'm like, bro, I probably still wasn't where I thought I was. So, you know, it's just. It's just kind of humbling yourself. Like, everybody has expectations for themselves, but it's also realizing, like, now I feel like I'm finally in that role where it's like, like I said, I've settled my feet in. Like, I've really accepted, like, D tackle is what I'm going to be doing. And, you know, to me, I don't think there's any pressure of the team leaning on me, because I feel like that was for, like, I've played games before. I've been in big games, you know, usc Like Ohio State, like, the pressure is gone now it's just living up. Like, I've been in situations where, like, okay, I'm in the game. The team was leaning on me when I was in the game last year, even though I wasn't the full fledged, you know, leader.
Enow Etta • 14:58
So, like, all, like, those kind of feelings, like, I feel like I'm used to it. Like, I understand that when I'm in the game, I'm gonna be leaned on, you know, and when I'm even on the sideline, I'm gonna be leaned on. So it's not as much pressure as I feel like some people might expect, because it's like, this is the role you, like I said, you pray to be in. And I mean, if I see myself as an NFL guy, then college. I shouldn't be, you know, the next time I want to be, oh, having the jitters is, you know, draft night. Like, that's, you know, that's really the goal. So it's like, when I see this, like, this is like the home plate. I should be stepping up, ready to bat. I shouldn't be. Because if I waver, you know, the guys behind me that are looking to me as a leader, the freshmen coming in, you know, what are they going to see? So there's no room for that. So I think the biggest thing is just, you know, going out there and doing what I'm supposed to do.
Enow Etta • 15:47
There's no factors, you know, that should be messing with me or anything like that.
Jon Jansen • 15:51
So between now and when fall begins, fall camp begins, what are some of the things that you're working on to give yourself the best chance to follow through on all those expectations that you have for yourself as well as everybody else?
Enow Etta • 16:05
I think the biggest thing, like, I want to come back light, you know, I think that that's going to put me in the best role to see. I played spring, and I feel like the role that Coach Hill is asking us, like, he told. He told us straight up, like, you guys are going to be playing more snaps than you ever played. So for me, it's just, how long can I put my best foot forward? There's going to be situations. You olive me. You seen it. It's some ten play drives, man. What? You know what I'm saying? So, like, you don't want to be out there, and it's a ten play drive, and you only put good tape. Six out of ten. The last. The last four, you were too tired. Like, I don't want to ever have that regret of like, man, if only I was more in shape, because I feel like this spring, I've honed in on my technique. I've honed in on, like, my pass rush moves that I feel like are going to put my best foot forward on tape.
Enow Etta • 16:53
So now it's just, how long can I. How long can my hands be great? How long can I run? How long can I chase after a quarterback? How long can I chase down that receiver out the stack? You know, I don't want, you know, any conditioning or any weight to be excused, you know, so definitely the biggest thing, I think, is just making sure that I take summer training seriously. And the new strength staff has, like, done a hell of a job. Like, where I'm at right now from where I was in January, like, is really insane. And, like, it almost begs the question, like, man, like, what have I been doing almost? You know, because it's like, the way my two hundred twenty five bench has gone up just in these last few months is insane. So I think it's just making sure that I'm staying bought into those guys. And, you know, I think, you know, spring, like I said, like, I've really tried to hone in on my technique and bring those guys, the younger guys in the room with it.
Enow Etta • 17:44
So I think it's just making sure that this fall, like, I already know I'm gonna put my best foot forward. You know, I showed flashes last year, and I need to turn those flashes into constant, like, constant, constant showing up, showing up, showing up. And I think I do that by being in shape and, you know, being able to do that for longer. I feel like, obviously, the longer you flash, those flashes turn into consistency. And I think consistency is the biggest thing, you know, so before I let
Jon Jansen • 18:11
you go, I think we can all hear the excitement in your voice and everything that's going on. But in your experience, you've seen throughout college football, even here, guys that are good.
Enow Etta • 18:24
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 18:25
You've also seen guys that are great.
Enow Etta • 18:27
Yeah.
Jon Jansen • 18:27
What's the difference between being a good defensive tackle versus being a great defensive tackle?
Enow Etta • 18:34
Yeah, I think it's literally what I just said. Like, consistency, like, I'll speak for, like, guys, like, I've seen, like, Mason and KG at least, like, you know, Coach Hill and I had a conversation where he, like, said, like, for you to be an elite guy. Like, he said he watched Mason and he was like, for him to be, like, an elite guy, like, he was like. He called it, like, he said something. He called it, like, Terminator. I don't know if you heard of that. But it's like one out of four plays. You're either. You're affecting the play, you're either getting a hurry, you know, you're making a tackle. So I think it's just, like I said, like, consistency. Like, when you turn on the tape, you know, I think good guys, like, show up here and there. Like, I feel like last year, like, I showed up here and there, but, you know, I wasn't there every. Every play. And I think that's the biggest thing, like, trying to be a great guy.
Enow Etta • 19:21
Like, you have to show up every play. Like, when the play comes your way, what are you doing? Like, are you getting. Are you in the play? Are you out of the play? Are you affecting the play? Like, every few plays, you should be doing something. You know, the ball's not always gonna come your way. You're a D tackle, you know, like, they could run to the other side, they could do a pass down and double team, you know, like, you're not gonna always affect the play, but, like, finding ways to affect the play. Like, making a chase down tackle, like, doing things that, you know, like. And I saw that, like, you know, with Mason, kg, Rayshawn, like, those guys were, like, great at doing that, like, affecting the play. And I think the biggest thing is just being a disruptor consistently. Like I said, I think. I think consistency is key. Like, if you can do things, like, people are watching the game and, like, they see, like, man, like, I feel like every time I look up this dude making a play, and, like, I saw that with those guys and, like, I think that's the biggest thing that separate that, because a good guy is like, okay, he's good.
Enow Etta • 20:13
Like, he's here and there, you know, like, he's good. Like, he makes plays, but, like, to really be a lead, like, you're constantly, like, you are constantly being seen, you're constantly being felt, you know?
Jon Jansen • 20:23
Well, Enow, I appreciate your time. Best of luck as you prepare for this season, and we'll look forward to a great year.
Enow Etta • 20:28
Yes, sir. Thank you so much.
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Jeff Laurence • 20:30
Thanks for listening to this edition of in the Trenches with Jon Jansen, presented by Meijer, presenting sponsor of the twenty twenty six Michigan Football season and proud supporter of hundreds of local sports teams across the Midwest. In the Trenches is part of our Michigan Athletics Podcast network, M GO Blue Podcasts. The proceeding is a field presentation of the Michigan Sports Network.
