The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/873137
OCTOBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 53 PREP PROFILES Michigan has had tremendous success recruiting the state of New Jersey in recent years, and will look to keep that momentum going with Ramsey (N.J.) Don Bosco Prep four- star defensive end Tyler Friday. U-M has been after Friday for quite a while and hasn't let up in its pur- suit of the talented youngster. "I'm in contact with Michigan a few times a week," he revealed. "I talk to Coach [Greg] Mattison a lot, but I also talk to some of their other coaches such as Coach Harbaugh and Coach [Chris] Partridge. I've built up a great relationship with Coach Mat- tison, but Coach Partridge is from Jer- sey, so I'm always able to talk to him. "I just like everything about Michi- gan — they have such a good combi- nation of academics and sports. The feeling I get from a school is the most important thing. My family's and my relationship with them is crucial. I'd say they're one of my top schools." Although he admitted U-M is near the top for him, Friday said he isn't ready to come out with an official top group just yet. However, he did reveal which other schools he likes. "Michigan is up there for me, along with Ohio State," he said. "Miami is a school I'm learning a little bit more about right now too — there's a collection of other schools in there as well. "Overall, the ones who are coming at me the hardest are Rutgers, Michi- gan, Penn State, Ohio State, Miami and a handful of others." Fortunately for the Wolverines, Fri- day said he will definitely visit Ann Arbor again before making a final decision. "I'd say they'll be in it until the end for me," he explained. "I don't see why they wouldn't be. I just want to go somewhere that I'm comfortable around the coaches. That's so impor- tant because it's where I'll be for the next three or four years. I want to make sure it's right for me." Friday will definitely be watching and considering the Wolverines go- ing forward. "It'll be interesting to see what they do this year, because they made a big improvement last season from the year before," he explained. "I'm curi- ous to see how they'll be. Personally, I think they'll be great." L a n d i n g F r i d a y w o u l d o n l y strengthen the Ann Arbor-to-New Jersey recruiting pipeline the staff has worked so hard to build. — Austin Fox Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra four-star athlete Bryan Addison is one of the highest-rated players Michigan is still going after in the 2018 class. "I talk daily with Michigan," Ad- dison revealed. "We talk about me potentially coming there to check out the school for an official visit." In fact, Addison already has a date in mind. "I plan on taking one of my offi- cials there when they play Michigan State [Oct. 7]," he explained. The senior noted the October trip will actually be his second visit to Michigan. He also traveled to Ann Arbor in April 2015, but the Wolver- ines were not yet recruiting him at that time. Listed as an athlete by Rivals.com, Addison has the potential to play several different positions in college. He explained what the Michigan coaches see him as. "I usually talk to Coach [Mike] Zordich and Coach Jim [Harbaugh]," he said. "They're recruiting me as both a safety and receiver." The four-star athlete currently plays both of those positions in high school, along with cornerback. Addison posted impressive stats last year at Junipero Serra while playing all three positions. He caught two touchdown passes on offense, and racked up 53 tackles and three interceptions on defense. His position preference is based on a simple requirement. "Whatever is going to get me on the field the fastest," he said. Good genes run in his family — his father played in the NFL, and his brother is currently a redshirt junior defensive back at Arizona State. Despite growing up in a football- oriented family, Addison admitted he didn't watch the Wolverines much when he was young. That doesn't mean they're not a serious contender in his recruitment now, though. "What I like most about them is how intense they are up there about football," he revealed. "But the first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of Michigan is Jim Har- baugh, and how he has put Michigan back on top." Although his hometown of Gar- dena, Calif., is 2,253 miles from Ann Arbor, Addison insisted distance will not be a factor in his final decision. "Michigan will be in it until the end for me," he confirmed. — Austin Fox U-M Hopes To Continue Its Recruiting Success In New Jersey Wolverines Are In Heavy Pursuit Of Versatile California Athlete ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Junipero Serra H.S. Gardena, Calif. Class: 2018 Position: Athlete Ht.: 6-5 • Wt.: 175 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 7 player in the state of California, and No. 3 ath- lete and No. 59 overall prospect in the nation Bryan Addison ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Don Bosco Prep H.S. Ramsey, N.J. Class: 2018 Position: Strongside Defensive End Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 260 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 2 senior in New Jersey, and No. 6 strongside de- fensive end and No. 60 overall recruit nationally Tyler Friday Addison "The first thing that comes to mind for me when I think of Michigan is Jim Harbaugh, and how he has put Michigan back on top." Friday "I just like everything about Michigan — they have such a good combination of academics and sports. … I'd say they're one of my top schools."