Michael Evans Behling Picked Up Taye Diggs’ ‘Intricacies’ for ‘All American’ (Exclusive)

Taye Diggs may have exited All American, but his influence still lives on.

Speaking with PEOPLE in promotion of the latest season of The CW drama, Michael Evans Behling says there were things he learned from the veteran actor, 54, during their time starring as father and son together.

“You see bits and pieces of Billy in every episode that Jordan has, the ability to kind of bring down the hammer as a coach,” Evans Behling, 28, explains, referring to Diggs’ Billy Baker, who was the head football coach at Beverly High, as well as a husband and father to twins Olivia Baker (Samantha Logan) and his own character, Jordan Baker.

Diggs left the series, which is loosely based on the life of former NFL player Spencer Paysinger, in February 2023. His character was killed following an accident with his football team while traveling.

“Just for me, as an actor, being able to watch Taye for the last five years of the show, I feel like I’ve just picked up little intricacies that he’s done, and just kind of filtered them into Jordan,” Evans Behling tells PEOPLE. “And you’ll see that all throughout season 7.”

Season 7 of All American sees Jordan following in his father’s footsteps as the new Coach Baker at South Crenshaw High — where Billy once taught. 

And, because it wouldn’t be high school football if the Crenshaw Charges didn’t have a rival, Osy Ikhile joins the cast for season 7 as Cassius Jeremy, the new coach of the Beverly High Eagles.

His son — Kingston “KJ” Jeremy, played by Nathaniel McIntyre — is the new starting quarterback of the team.

“To be on an established show, it’s a blessing,” Ikhile, 36, tells PEOPLE, reflecting on the series overall. “I’ve been a fan since season one, so I’m stoked to be here.”

When describing the complexities of his character, who is a father, coach and mentor, Ikhile says Cassius has “so much going on in his personal life,” referencing the struggles in Cassius’ marriage to KJ’s mom while starting his new job. 

“His way of coping with that is just tunnel vision, [and] maybe a little bit over-excited about making this football dream come true for KJ. So it could turn into some conflicts, and it could be a little bit unhealthy at times, but I think he’s just trying to survive and just really trying to overly focus on football to the point where it might not be the best thing to do,” he adds.

“But he’s giving it a good effort,” the British actor continues.

Joining Ikhile and McIntyre as part of the cast this season, there’s also Khalil, played by Antonio J. Bell, who is a troubled student at South Crenshaw High, as well as Amina, portrayed by Alexis Chikaeze, a classmate who sees the good in him while helping him to see the good in himself.

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All American’s latest season premiered Feb. 3 on The CW, with new episodes airing Mondays at 8 p.m. EST. The first six seasons of All American can be streamed on Netflix.