Troy Woolfolk arrived at Michigan two years ago determined to make a name for himself.

Oh, his last name was well-recognized around Ann Arbor because his father, Butch, starred at running back for the Wolverines in his own day.

At first, Woolfolk, was known by the name "Little Butch" before making enough of an impact on the field to get his teammates to begin calling him by his given name.

Troy Woolfolk

Originally recruited as a cornerback, Woolfolk moved to safety. But when Boubacar Cissoko was suspended last week, Woolfolk jumped back to cornerback.

In a recent question-and-answer session, Woolfolk - who is remembered among the press for his press conference tales about his dog - talks about the manner in which the news he was switching positions was delivered along with his propensity for getting in trouble as a kid growing up in Texas.

Q: You've jumped around the field a bit when it comes to where you play. Do you have a preference between cornerback and safety?

A: I don't really care as long as I'm on the field, and then I'm good. I think I'm versatile enough to play either cornerback or safety. Anything I can help my team out, I'm glad to do.

Q: Where there any adjustments you had to make in going back to cornerback?

A: I was able to focus on the receiver versus focusing on the whole field. It actually seemed easier playing corner after playing at safety. It's made it seem like you've got less responsibility, so I was out there just having fun.

Q: Did you feel like Iowa was going to pick on your more than they did?

A: Yeah, I thought they would. My freshman year (former Michigan assistant Erik) Campbell and he was always picking on me, and I thought that was going to be the main thing they were going to try and do. But then they actually started attacking Donovan (Warren) so I was kind of shocked. But when they came my way, I was ready to hold my ground.

Q: Has Donovan helped you with the position?

A: Donovan and I came here at the same time and we were fighting for the same starting spot, which he got. We're really cool, and he's been coaching me up during the week on my fundamentals.

Q: You said before the season that you felt maybe safety was more of your natural position, do you still feel that way?

A: Actually, I have no idea what my natural position is. I felt like maybe safety was going to be it, but corner has evolved into a new position to me. It's not the same corner I used to play. It's just more exciting than it used to be. I think (corner is) different because I actually know the defense now because back at safety, you have understand the concept of the whole defense and instead of me just being narrow-minded and just worrying about me at cornerback, I actually see the bigger picture and I know what I have to play in my role to help the team out.

Q: How did you learn that you were being moved?

A: Actually I was in the middle of class and I got a text from my (position) coach. Initially, I thought I had done something wrong, because I'm not one of the greatest kids. So I come to the meeting all scared and stuff. The first thing he says is that I'm still going to be playing and so whatever he said after that, I didn't care what happened. So then he said I'm going to be a cornerback, and so it wasn't too big of a deal to me.

Q: You said you're not the greatest kid?

A: I was joking. I'm a good kid, I just have tendencies to veer off. But it's kind of weird because I'm always getting little punishments for no reason. It's more little stuff for being 5 minutes late for practice and stuff.

Q: Didn't your dad tell you that with coach Schembechler, there were punishments for being even a minute late? A: Yeah, that's why I am always like 10 minutes early.

Q: So when you got that text from your coach, did it feel you were back in school getting called to the principal's office?

A: Yeah, when I was a kid, all of the teachers didn't like me, and I always ended up getting a spanking (at home) at the end of the day and I'm trying to convince my dad that the teacher was wrong and he's lying. But my dad always sided with them. But I had a brother and he was my lawyer and he always kept me from getting spankings. Every time my dad sent me to the back room, my brother was always sympathizing with me. He's like my mediator between me and my dad.

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2554 or jeffarnold@annarbor.com