Catching Up With ... is an occasional feature at AnnArbor.com where we chat with former Michigan athletes. If you have a suggestion for a future Catching Up With ..., email michaelrothstein@annarbor.com

David Baas played four years at Michigan (2001-04), three at left guard and one at center. He was an all-Big Ten player three times and was selected in the second round of 2005 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

Baas is currently a free agent. So, as the NFL lockout continues, the Sarasota, Fla., native is not totally sure where he'll end up next year. In the meantime, Baas spent time in Ann Arbor at the Brian Griese/Steve Hutchinson/Charles Woodson charity event last week and reflected on his time at Michigan, his career and former coach Lloyd Carr.

Baas in 2002.

Q: What have you been doing during the lockout?

David Baas: “Pretty much just keep working, with the lockout, not sit around doing nothing. Just get into shape and control the things you can control and be a good husband, good dad and spend time with the family as much as I can. Basically just wait until it resolves itself and be ready to go back once we’re called.”

Q: Being a free agent, does it change your approach at all? Does it make you more frustrated?

DB: “No, I don’t think so. If you think about it too much, you start asking all those questions and let it eat at you. You just do what you can do and whenever your number is called you go back to work and go back to business. I’m not worried about all that stuff. I’ll be playing next year somewhere.”

Q: What have you been doing to keep your mind off stuff?

DB: “It’s been more family time. We’ve been busy. Being down in Florida, we’re constantly seeing family and seeing everybody. It’s been more that. Been out to golf a couple of times. Other than that, just normal routine with workouts and family stuff.”

Q: Are you any good at golf?

DB: “You know what, I’m decent. I would say I’m decent, but I’m very up-and-down. Since February, I've played seven times. Before that, I played once every six months. So a little bit more.”

Q: Besides football, what have you done since you left here?

DB: “My wife and I, we built a house down in Florida so that’s been the main thing, getting the house done and family moved in there and that ... takes forever. That’s what we’ve been working on as far as our free time and taking the kids to different soccer classes and stuff like that. It fills up your time quick, but it’s enjoyable.”

Q: When it comes to Michigan, what’s your favorite memory?

DB: “Oh man, we were talking about that (Saturday). Way too many memories. Just putting things in perspective and being around the guys was the best part. You’ve got so many stories and different things happen over the years and you see Lloyd (Carr) being so happy and doing all these special things for them and the kids and Mott. The Michigan experience that I think is so different from college to the NFL. It’s great. I’m sad I haven’t gotten back more, but I’m glad I got to come back this year. It’s awesome to just catch up with all the guys.”

Q: When you heard Lloyd getting inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame, is that something you figured would eventually happen?

DB: “Oh, for sure. It’s funny. We were talking about all the schools that I was recruited (to) and took visits to coming out of high school. So someone asked ‘Well, why did you come to Michigan?’ One of the main reasons was Lloyd Carr and just Michigan, the tradition. I look back at all the other coaches, when I look back at everyone else, they were all gone in like two years and Lloyd was still there. I’m so glad I made the decision to come here. That’s just who he is, always caring about his players and that’s what really drew me to Michigan. Lloyd.”

Michael Rothstein covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by email at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.