8/23/22 Availability
Q:
How does Sainristil look at cornerback?
Wilson:
Mike, looks really good out there. He’s got a good feel for things not only because he’s athletic, but he plays offense so he kind of knows where routes are going and he’s got a good feel, looks good.
Q:
What’s different for you in year three?
Wilson:
Something big for me is, you know, I put a lot more effort and energy into things. I gotta stop caring about what people think and I just gotta go out there and bring good vibes and just have fun.
We don’t want to be what old Michigan was, we want to set a new standard…It’s no surprise that we haven’t done that well in the past few years…We want to be considered one of the best when we leave this program.
Roman Wilson
Q:
How is the competition for reps in the wide receiver in this year been different compared to your first couple of years?
Wilson:
For me it’s been different…I feel like you’re no longer fighting to be a starter, you’re just fighting to get like reps in practice and just better yourself. Like no matter like where you are on the depth chart, like all 19 receivers are just trying to get as many reps as they can. So like, it’s not just fighting to start, it’s fighting to get better.
Q:
Now that last year is gone, can you explain how badly the wrist bothered you even after you came back?
Wilson:
I can still feel it. Like it still hurts, like I can’t do push ups and when I push off, I can’t really bend it. But I wouldn’t say it bothers me though.
Q:
Is that way in perpetuity- it’s just going to be that way?
Wilson:
It’s gonna be like this rest of my life. I just got to deal with it.
Q:
What’s it been like watching Darrius Clemons from when he got on campus to now. I know when he came in physically ready but how was he looking with route running and figuring all those things out schematically?
Wilson:
For all the freshmen it’s been amazing to watch them just learn new technique and watch them like develop into like a real receiver. And you know…he’s a big guy, it feels good to watch him not just like be big all the time and really like focus on his technique, even though he had good technique before, but just a different level now.
Q:
When you said you want to stop caring what people think about you what do you mean by that?
Wilson:
I want to say like not caring but stop thinking so much. Kind of just be in a space where you know I’m just focused on football and focus on winning games. That’s all that really matters.
Q:
Who’s the fastest guy on the team?
Wilson:
I’m gonna say it’s me all day. DJ shocked me this year, he was moving pretty fast in the summer. Eamonn Dennis, Amorion Walker. AJ. Yeah…a couple freshmen in there.
Q:
Who are the fastest running backwards?
Wilson:
Running backwards? [ laughter]
Q:
From your view, what is the quarterback situation like?
Wilson:
You know, they’re both been really good but if I had to be honest, I feel like our best option is probably me. But now, they’re both doing good. It’s gonna be hard to pick one. So you never know.
Q:
Cade a couple weeks ago said this team wants to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. Is that something that you all talked about? How does that manifest when you’re preparing for a season?
Wilson:
Our goals for the season is different you know last year was more you know, beat our rivals but this year is more like we want it all, we want to beat our rivals, go the playoffs, like Big 10 Championship, like all that. We want to come for it all. We don’t want to be what old Michigan was, we want to set a new standard for us.
Q:
When you say old Michigan what do you mean by that?
Wilson:
It’s no surprise that we haven’t done that well in the past few years. And you know, we want to take our game like up here, we want to be like considered one of the best when we leave this program.
Q:
How do you separate yourself in such a crowded receiver room when you have so many guys?
Wilson:
That’s a good question. I feel like the one way to separate yourself is being consistent and reliable. You got to know what’s going on at all times and you got to make plays when the ball comes your way.
Q:
You talked about old Michigan and how you guys have sort of changed a bit. At what point do you think you guys turned that corner? Whether it was last year, maybe this offseason when you turn that corner and if you haven’t turned that corner what do you think it takes?
Wilson:
Just like effort and energy like when I was a freshman I always felt like we was working hard, but, you know, just the difference we’ve come and the amount of like energy and the guys like really want to. It just feels different. It’s like, you can’t even explain it.
Q:
You think it’s like the language among the team is how you guys talk to each other in practice?
Wilson:
Yeah, I mean like people talk shit to each other, like they get upset over plays and like nobody likes to lose, like everyone’s a sore loser…It’s competitive.
Q:
What does it mean to your room to have Ronnie Bell back both as a leader as well as production-wise?
Wilson:
It means a lot having Ronnie there, he’s a vocal guy. He’s always saying something and you know, kind of telling the coaches how we feel about certain things and it’s great, he brings a lot of energy. He has a lot of fun in practice, just another guy to have around. He’s a great leader and helps out a lot.
Q:
What’s it like to have Ron Bellamy as your position coach?
Wilson:
Coach Gattis, he was cool, I really liked him a lot but Coach Bell he played receiver here so it obviously means more like to him, I would hope so.
Q:
Kind of piggybacking off that what’s the biggest difference in coaching style between coach Gattis and coach Bellamy?
Wilson:
I wouldn’t say like, there’s too much [different] like both of them are competitive and just push us to the limit.
Edits made for clarity.
