Sibling rivalry can be a big motivator.

Just ask Stamps receiver Marken Michel.

“It makes us both good,” Michel said of the healthy competition with his younger brother, Sony, who was selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

“We try not to compare, but I think it’s natural. It’s just of those things where you say ‘ok, you did this, so I’m going to do this.’

“I think one week he scored twice, in that same week I scored once. It’s one of those things where we try to go back and forth.”

Now in his second year with the Red & White, Michel was last year’s West Division nominee for Most Outstanding Rookie, and comes into this season with high expectations for himself.

“That happened but now I’m focused on other goals,” said Michel. “Playing one game at a time, just trying to go out there and do my best. If I go out there and give 100%, I believe that this season will be very successful for me.”

Growing both on and off the field is a priority for Michel, who’s been more vocal in his second training camp.

“I feel like I’ve been trying to play my role, and not try to step on the feet of the veterans that came before me,” Michel explained. “But I’m also trying to establish myself as someone the younger guys can look up to, and look to for answers.”

The 24-year-old’s plans for personal development don’t stop there.

“This year I want to work on playing with a little more confidence,” Michel said. “I feel like a lot of guys see me at practice dancing and joking around, but I’m also locked in.

“I feel I still have a couple milestones that I have to reach as far as confidence goes.”

Of course, you don’t reach goals like that without a lot of hard work.

“That’s the name of the game: grind,” Michel said. “Every single day, twice a day, I’m getting it in.”

“I don’t believe in taking a break. In the off-season you got a lot of guys going on vacation, but I just feel like I don’t have time to waste. I have aspirations, for me to reach those goals I can’t let my competitors outwork me.”

Between building leadership, confidence, and polishing his play, Michel’s to-do list for the 2018 season may seem long, but at the end of the day it all leads to one thing.

“The ultimate goal for me this year is to win the Grey Cup.”