ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- While new Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham has praised the culture he inherited in Ann Arbor, there were definitely a lot of changes that needed to be made. Much of the talk surrounding spring ball was centered on Whittingham asserting some discipline, and from all accounts, that's been a major, positive change within the program.

But what's more, for a player like third-year edge rusher Lugard Edokpayi, there's just a different feeling compared to his first two years with the program.

"Just, I'd say the overall vibe of the team, the locker room, the morale," Edokpayi said. "Even with the coaches, you didn't know what to expect having a new staff come in. So, I'd say just how everybody stayed together, that's one. And just, yeah, all the players, I mean, since I'm kind of transitioning from that younger guy to older guy, you see, I kind of have to take that role of saying how you're doing to the younger guys, kind of leading them on. So, just, yeah, being closer together."

Michigan football special teams coach Kerry CoombsBryce UnderwoodMichigan defensive ends coach Lewis PowellMichigan football WR Travis JohnsonMichigan football WR coach Micah SimonMichigan football LB coach Alex WhittinghamMichigan football assistant WR coach Marques Hagns2028 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Marshaun Thornton, four-star CB Tavares Harrington, and S commit Darrell Mattison2027 Indianapolis (Ind.) Franklin Central four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer2027 Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge EDGE Alex JohnsonMichigan OT signee Malakai LeeMichigan DT signee Alister VallejoMichigan football QB coach Koy Detmer Jr.Michigan football DT coach Larry BlackMichigan football EDGE signee Carter MeadowsMichigan football OC Jason BeckMichigan football EDGE Cam BrandtMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah EdmondMichigan football ST coach Kerry CoombsMichigan football EDGE Lugard EdokpayiMichigan football LB Troy BowlesMichigan football freshman S Jordan Deck2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre BiddenMichigan football OT Marky WalbridgeMichigan football RB Savion HiterMichigan football LB Nathaniel Owusu-BoatengMichigan football LB Nathaniel StaehlingMichigan football WR coach Micah SimonAvery Gach and Houston Ka'ahaina-Torres work to combo block DT Enow EttaTE Eli Owens celebrates a first downNathan Efobi takes on Jonah Lea'eaBryce Underwood rears back to passBryce Underwood scrambles after protection breaks downMichigan football RB Jordan MarshallKyle WhittinghamJason BeckMichigan football WR Jaime FfrenchBryce Underwood unloadsBryce Underwood scramblesJordan Marshall breaks freeMichigan football S Ernest NunleyKyle WhittinghamJason BeckMichigan football CB Shamari EarlsMichigan football WR Jacob WashingtonMichigan football WR Jacob WashingtonMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady NortonMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady NortonTommy Carr hands off to Jonathan BrownMichigan football OL Evan LinkMichigan football WR Travis JohnsonKyle WhittinghamMichigan football WR Jaime FfrenchMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football EDGE McHale Blade and DT Ted HammondMichigan football K Trey ButkowskiMichigan football OL coach Jim HardingMichigan football WR Salesi MoaMichigan football S Taylor TatumMichigan football WR Salesi MoaMichigan football EDGE McHale BladeMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah EdmondMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah EdmondMichigan football WR Jamar BrowderKyle WhittinghamKyle WhittinghamFormer Michigan football TE Marlin KleinKyle WhittinghamMichigan football RB Tomas O'MearaMichigan football RB Tomas O'MearaThe blue team celebrates a defensive stop by freshman LB Markel DabneyMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitMichigan football CB coach Jernaro GilfordMichigan football WR Andrew MarshMichigan football RB Jonathan BrownMichigan football QB Brady SmigielMichigan football LB Aisea MoaMichigan football WR Jamar BrowderMichigan football QB Tommy CarrMichigan football RB Tomas O'MearaMichigan football S Kainoa WinstonMichigan football LB Markel DabneyMichigan football CB Jamarion VincentKyle WhittinghamMichigan football LB Aden ReederMichigan football S Taylor TatumKyle WhittinghamKyle WhittinghamMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitJonathan Brown tosses to Logan Forbes on the double-reverseMichigan football QB Tommy CarrJaylen Pile and the maize team celebrate the go-ahead touchdownTony Alford and Kerry Coombs2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota GuerrantMichigan football DT signee Alister VallejoMichigan football DT signee Titan DavisMichigan football spring gameMichigan football WR Andrew MarshMichigan football OL Evan LinkKyle Whittingham speaks to the Michigan football team after the spring gameMichigan football S Jordan YoungMichigan football DT Jonah Lea'eaMichigan football WR Jaime FfrenchThe Michigan football defensive backfieldThe Michigan football running backs roomThe Michigan football wide receiversMichigan football DT Travis MotenChase Taylor, Ernest Nunley, Jordan Young, and Jordan DeckKainoa Winston and Jamarion VincentJordan Deck and Ernest NunleyNathaniel Owusu-BoatengJohn Henry DaleyJordan DeckJordan Deck, Jamarion Vincent, and Ernest NunleyMichigan football QB Chase HerbstreitJonah Lea'ea, Trey Pierce, and Enow Etta2028 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech five-star QB Donald TabronMalakai Lee and Jim HardingJyaire Hill and Jo'Ziah Edmond with recruits1 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs1 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football special teams coach Kerry Coombs2 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood3 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan defensive ends coach Lewis Powell4 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Travis Johnson5 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR coach Micah Simon6 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB coach Alex Whittingham7 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football assistant WR coach Marques Hagns8 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Marshaun Thornton, four-star CB Tavares Harrington, and S commit Darrell Mattison9 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2027 Indianapolis (Ind.) Franklin Central four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer10 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2027 Fort Mill (S.C.) Catawba Ridge EDGE Alex Johnson11 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan OT signee Malakai Lee12 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan DT signee Alister Vallejo13 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB coach Koy Detmer Jr.14 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT coach Larry Black15 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE signee Carter Meadows16 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OC Jason Beck17 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE Cam Brandt18 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond19 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football ST coach Kerry Coombs20 / 125Michigan football's new coach brings discipline and a 'great change'Michigan football EDGE Lugard Edokpayi21 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Troy Bowles22 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football freshman S Jordan Deck23 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden24 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant25 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Deandre Bidden26 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OT Marky Walbridge27 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Savion Hiter28 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng29 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Nathaniel Staehling30 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR coach Micah Simon31 / 125CBS Sports: Michigan football's spring game reveals strong defenseAvery Gach and Houston Ka'ahaina-Torres work to combo block DT Enow Etta32 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameTE Eli Owens celebrates a first down33 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameNathan Efobi takes on Jonah Lea'ea34 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood rears back to pass35 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood scrambles after protection breaks down36 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Jordan Marshall37 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham38 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJason Beck39 / 125Michigan football's pass catchers are much improvedMichigan football WR Jaime Ffrench40 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood unloads41 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameBryce Underwood scrambles42 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Marshall breaks free43 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Ernest Nunley44 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham45 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJason Beck46 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Shamari Earls47 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jacob Washington48 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jacob Washington49 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton50 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Marky Walbridge and Brady Norton51 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameTommy Carr hands off to Jonathan Brown52 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Evan Link53 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Travis Johnson54 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham55 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameMichigan football WR Jaime Ffrench56 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr57 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr58 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr59 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr60 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE McHale Blade and DT Ted Hammond61 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football K Trey Butkowski62 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL coach Jim Harding63 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Salesi Moa64 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Taylor Tatum65 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameMichigan football WR Salesi Moa66 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football EDGE McHale Blade67 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond68 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jo'Ziah Edmond69 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jamar Browder70 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham71 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham72 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameFormer Michigan football TE Marlin Klein73 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham74 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Tomas O'Meara75 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Tomas O'Meara76 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe blue team celebrates a defensive stop by freshman LB Markel Dabney77 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit78 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit79 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB coach Jernaro Gilford80 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Andrew Marsh81 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Jonathan Brown82 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Brady Smigiel83 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Aisea Moa84 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jamar Browder85 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr86 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football RB Tomas O'Meara87 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameMichigan football S Kainoa Winston88 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameMichigan football LB Markel Dabney89 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football CB Jamarion Vincent90 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham91 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football LB Aden Reeder92 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Taylor Tatum93 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham94 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham95 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit96 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJonathan Brown tosses to Logan Forbes on the double-reverse97 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Tommy Carr98 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJaylen Pile and the maize team celebrate the go-ahead touchdown99 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameTony Alford and Kerry Coombs100 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2027 Harper Woods (Mich.) five-star WR Dakota Guerrant101 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT signee Alister Vallejo102 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT signee Titan Davis103 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football spring game104 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Andrew Marsh105 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football OL Evan Link106 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKyle Whittingham speaks to the Michigan football team after the spring game107 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football S Jordan Young108 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football DT Jonah Lea'ea109 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football WR Jaime Ffrench110 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe Michigan football defensive backfield111 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe Michigan football running backs room112 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameThe Michigan football wide receivers113 / 125Michigan football's 10 players who impressed in spring gameMichigan football DT Travis Moten114 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameChase Taylor, Ernest Nunley, Jordan Young, and Jordan Deck115 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameKainoa Winston and Jamarion Vincent116 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Deck and Ernest Nunley117 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameNathaniel Owusu-Boateng118 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJohn Henry Daley119 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Deck120 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJordan Deck, Jamarion Vincent, and Ernest Nunley121 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMichigan football QB Chase Herbstreit122 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJonah Lea'ea, Trey Pierce, and Enow Etta123 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring game2028 Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech five-star QB Donald Tabron124 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameMalakai Lee and Jim Harding125 / 125Gallery: Plays, players, coaches and recruits at Michigan spring gameJyaire Hill and Jo'Ziah Edmond with recruitsOne of the big changes was Whittingham's hiring of strength coach Doug Elisaia. Though the previous staff was comprised of the holdovers from Ben Herbert's acclaimed group, the results weren't quite the same. Now, according to Edokpayi, Elisaia's staff has made substantial improvements, and it's starting to yield early results.

"Strength staff, it's a great change," Edokpayi said. "I say this for me. A lot of guys say to me, they just feel like we're getting much more stronger physically. We're just faster, explosiveness. Strength staff, it's like the best of both worlds. You come in, and you're just in the gym constantly for the first half of spring ball. You're putting on weight, putting on weight, putting on weight. You're so eager to play football, and then finally get to play football, finally get to be coached by these coaches that were brought in. It's like, wow, it's just amazing."

While many tend to look around at other programs and deem them more ready, more talented, that's not an excuse that's whispering through the walls of Schembechler Hall. In fact, they're quite aware that they're flying under the radar, rife with talent.

Edokpayi noted that there are multiple groups that are brimming with ability, and he feels like the talent can carry this team a long way this season.

"Talent-wise, yeah, I feel like, man, the sky's the limit for this team this year," Edokpayi said. "Because to be a talent in every room, you know, you see the offense, you look at the receiver room, you look at the running back room. Even on defense, we have a lot of talent in this school that is going to be good defensively. So, the sky's the limit for our team. "

Michigan has officially concluded spring ball and will return in June, with summer conditioning leading the way toward fall camp and eventually the Sept. 5 season opener against Western Michigan.

This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football culture shift under new coach