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4B Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Saturday, October 27, 2007
The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom

Orchard Lake Saint Mary's high school.I
But from the start, it was Trent's versa-
tility that caught the eye of Michigan
coach Lloyd Carr.
"When he came here, he was a wide1
receiver," Carr said. "What I liked
about him was he played both ways; he
was a safety. But the cornerback posi-
tion (was) new to him, and he had alot
of things to learn."
Trent made the switch to corner-
back during spring drills his redshirt
freshman season because of Michigan's
paper-thin depth at the spot. By the sec-
ond game of the year, he was playing in
games. And a month into the season, he
made his firstcareer start at cornerback
against Michigan State.
"I didn't have many expectations
coming in and playing corner," Trent
said. "I didn't know what to think
because it happened so quick.".
By season's end, Trent was a fresh-
man All-American honorable mention
at cornerback, and he had solidified not
only his starting spot in the secondary
but also his role on the team.
Now, two-and-a-half seasons later
and the team's top dog in the secondary,
setting the bar too low isn't an issue for
Trent. Instead, he's added extra respon-
sibilities thanks to newfound comfort
in the defensive backfield.
"It takes about two years (to adjust
to a new position)," Trent said. "I'm
going to say this is the first year I'm
truly starting to feel comfortable. Now
I can start to help the younger guys. In
order to help someone else, you have to
(know) what to do yourself first."
Trent understands how things work
with the Michigan secondary. The
upperclassman superstar mentors the
younger, budding star. Marlin Jackson
did it for Hall, Hall did it for Trent and
now it's Trent turn to return the favor.
"He's definitely becoming a leader
for the younger corners and trying to
get them going as well," Englemon said.
"It's not only about his play, he's trying
to get Donovan (Warren) and some of
the younger corners going, too."
Said Warren, the starting corner-
back opposite Trent: "Morgan's done
everything he could to make me adjust
as quick as possible. If I have a question,
he's the first person I go to."
Hiding from the
spotlight
If you're garnering attention at the
cornerback position, it's probably for
the wrong reasons. Trent found that
out the hard way last season.
But for someone who prefers to step
aside from the limelight, Trent has
made an interesting housing decision.
Michigan's most Hiighly praised play-
er since Charles Woodson is Trent's
roommate - Heisman Trophy candi-
date Mike Hart..
"I don't want tobe in the spotlight,"
Trent said. "I don't need to be in the
spotlight. It's really aboutthis team. It's
about getting this team together, get-
ting this team to win games."
Though Hart may have the same
team-centric goals in mind, he does it
while being in the spotlight. The mix of
two different personalities may make

for an odd-couple environment, but
ultimately, it balances the two.
"It's weird because I room with
Mike, and he's the hype, I mean, every-
body knows Mike," Trent said. "We're
the exact opposite, soI get enough from
just dealing with him."
Living with someone who Trent
said loves talking so much that he does
it in his sleep has given Trent a stron-
ger backbone. If Hart jokingly jaws at
Trent, he'll get it right back. The same
goes for talkative opposing receivers.
So when the two aren't fighting about
whether Hartcould or couldn't be a suc-
cessful cornerback if he wanted ("Not
fast enough. Too small, too," according
to Trent), Trent's ready to play ball and
not worry about the limelight.
"It's something you get used to.
Everyone has those dreams of scoring
touchdowns and throwing the ball in
the crowd, but that's not my position
anymore," Trent said.
Trent says he models his game after
Hall, another soft-spoken secondary
member. He occasionally calls Hall on
the phone to stay sharp.
When Hall went to Michigan's match-
up against Eastern Michigan last month,
Trent got the opportunity to speak to his
mentor in person. But instead of talking
-about the season or football mechanics,
Trent decided to give his former second-
ary mate a hard time.
"I had to give him a little talk about
that game on Monday night against
Randy Moss," Trent said, referring to a
game the week before where Moss and
the New England receiving corps tore
apart Hall and the Cincinnati Bengal
secondary.
For someone who has taken so much
criticism during his short time at Mich-
igan, Trent is allowed to give out some
friendly ribbing here and there.
Resisting an encore
After Michigan's dismal 0-2 start,
Trent and safety Jamar Adams have
provided the upperclassman leader-
ship needed to steer the secondary back
to where it wanted to be all season.
Since Michigan allowed back-to-back
200-plus-yard games through the air
to start the year, it has yielded just two
more such games since.
Now that Michigan is back in the
Big Ten Championship picture and the
defense is clicking like it did last season,
the scene is set for several end-of-the-
year high-profile games. With trips to
'East Lansing and Madison along with
a battle against No. 1 Ohio State to end
the year, Trent might be reminded of
his struggles against the Buckeyes and
Southern Cal last season.
Trent isn't at all afraid of a repeat
performance. And he's not alone - just
ask his coach.
"He came back in the winter with
an attitude that he wanted to play a full
season," Carr said. "He's a very dedi-
cated guy, takes care of himself. He's
got pride, and that motivated him in
the course of the spring and off-season.
There's no question in my mind he'll be
able to finish this year."
Don't bet against it - the last thing
Trent wants is another offseason in the
spotlight.

Junior Morgan Trent has had his ups and downs since switching to cornerback. This season, he's been a force for the Michigan secondary.

half before the Trojan attack started
clicking. The wheels came off for Trent
and the Michigan secondary at the
same time.
The Wolverines allowed four sec-
ond-half passing touchdowns and near-
ly 400 yards through the air.
Southern Cal's receiving duo of
Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith
thrashed Michigan's lastline of defense
- especially Trent - and the image of
the Trojans repeatedly running into
the Michigan endzone has since been
burned into the minds of many Michi-
gan fans.
With plenty of stars around him,
including four defenders drafted in the
first round and a half of this year's NFL
Draft, Trent took the brunt of the blame
for the defense's dismal performance.
"I don't try to focus on it too much,
but-you still hear it," Trent said of the
criticism he received in the offseason.
"Nobody wants to be talked about and
known as that weakest link."
But without that experience, Trent
may not be wherehe is today.
"It makes you so strong," Trent said.

"It's something you have to endure. It's
not fun enduring it, but it's worth it.
You're going to get thick skin because
of it, and it's helped me grow as a player
and a person."
Trent admitted he was tempted to go
into a shell at the end of the season, but
he couldn't afford that luxury. With so
little time betweenseasons, Trentknew
learning from his mistakes was his best
course of action.
"Any time somebody criticizes you
about your play, you want to prove them
wrong -notonly for them, but for your-
self," safety Brandent Englemon said. "I
can't explain how hard (Trent) worked
in the offseason in terms of being in the
film room as much as he was and out
there doing drills."
Switching it up again
Both of Trent's parents were college
athletes at the University of Nebraska.
His father,Phillip,played football,while
his mother, Tina, was a swimmer.
When Morgan was 8, Tina tried to

convince him to switch to her sport.
Trent didn't buy the sales pitch,
though.
"It's just swimming one way and
back the other. It's nothing exciting,"
he said. "I knew it wasn't for me."
Had he jumped ship, it wouldn't be
the only big switch Trent's made. He's
"Nbodyw s to
b I d but
and know n th V
Weakest link: '
been surrounded by change his whole
life.
Born in California, Trent claims he
only misses the weather and Rubio's
tacos from his West Coast life. He
moved to Michigan in high school,
where he excelled as a wide receiver for