Brandyn Hillman ready to set the tone for Michigan’s defensive

Brandyn Hillman knows the difference between preparing in practice and playing under the lights on Saturday night. The Michigan defensive back said Tuesday that his approach in fall camp has been about walking a fine line — staying physical while also protecting teammates.

“No, I don’t do that. It’s my teammates,” Hillman said. “I try to keep them up, be safe, practice good practice habits, and just compete. That’s all we do. I mean, yeah, of course I hit my teammates because it’s not a soft game, so I hit them though.”

That controlled aggression shifts once the opponent isn’t wearing maize and blue. Hillman said flipping the switch is easy with the season opener against New Mexico fast approaching.

“Pretty much pretty easy, just seeing a different color. How I look at it is they got the same colors as ******* Ohio State, so I just play like that, to be honest.”

“Pretty much pretty easy, just seeing a different color, you know,” he said. “How I look at it is they got the same colors as ******* Ohio State, so I just play like that, to be honest.”

The comment drew laughs, but underscored the edge Michigan is carrying into a season where expectations are sky-high. The Wolverines lost several defensive standouts to the NFL Draft, yet Hillman dismissed any idea that the unit will take a step back.

“Of course, I don’t think any drop-off happened, no **** happened like that,” he said. “It’s nothing changed. Everybody out there is balling. I get it. First-rounders, we lost them and everything, but I don’t look at it that way. If you all come out and watch practice… It’s the same, same 11.”

Hillman, who emerged as a versatile option in the secondary last fall, said the defensive backfield has embraced a larger leadership role this offseason. He pointed to the bond he shares with cornerback Jyaire Hill and safety Zeke Berry as an example of how the group is preparing to anchor the defense.

“We kind of got a little trio, a little friend group that we got outside of the football facility,” he said. “We’ve been pushing each other because we are a young group on the back end of the defensive backs. So we try to carry ourselves, me, Jyaire, Zeke, try to carry ourselves, to have meetings outside of the gym and try to figure out what we can do for our group.”

Part of that growth has come under second-year defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, whose arrival from the NFL brought buzz about an aggressive, unpredictable scheme. After early-season hiccups, the group found a groove to finish the season. Hillman said the offseason has been smooth, and the trust between players and staff continues to grow.

“I go to Wink’s office every day. Whenever I get up for school, I come in and make sure everybody, I say hey to everybody on the defensive staff pretty much every morning,” Hillman said. “So I can say that our bond with each other is good. The players feel comfortable. Whatever Wink calls, we trust it. We got it. We go execute.”

Michigan will need that cohesion quickly. New Mexico enters the season with a revamped roster under a new head coach, and Hillman noted that preparing for an opponent with so many new faces presents its own challenges.

Still, Hillman said Michigan’s anticipation for kickoff is only building as the opener draws near.

“I know how I am on the field. I’m going to go out there and have a ball, hit somebody. But, yeah, I’m excited, though. Everybody’s excited. We are all excited.”

For Hillman, that excitement comes with an edge. In practice, it’s about keeping teammates safe. On game day, he said it will be about seeing those opposing colors and treating them like Ohio State.