The Wolverine

December 2018

The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports

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DECEMBER 2018 THE WOLVERINE 51   PREP PROFILES The Michigan coaching staff looked to the Kansas City area late in the 2018 cycle to find a gem in wide receiver Ronnie Bell. The one-time Missouri State bas- ketball commit and Rivals two-star prospect has seen the field often as a true freshman and had three recep- tions for 80 yards and two touch- downs in the first nine g a m e s o f h i s ro o k i e campaign, justifying his scholarship offer. The staff hopes they m i g h t ' v e d i s c o v e re d gold again in Kansas C i t y. O v e r l a n d P a r k (Kan.) Blue Valley North three-star athlete Amauri Pesek-Hickson hasn't committed to Michigan, but he did get an offer in late October and it cer- tainly seems like a future in Ann Arbor could be in the cards for him. " C o a c h [ J i m ] H a r- baugh called me and offered me a full scholarship," Pesek-Hickson ex- plained. "I didn't even know what to say. It doesn't really feel real yet. Michigan is my dream school. "I've always really liked Michigan. They have always stood out to me, academically and athletically,. Get- ting that offer just means a lot I talk to other Big Ten and Big 12 schools, but nobody has invested in me like Michigan did." Pesek-Hickson's only other offer is from Mis- souri State, and he's ac- tually spent most of his prep career preparing for the hardwood. He hasn't played football since he was a freshman while he focused on basketball, so it is not surprising that his recruitment on the gridiron is a little behind. With an offer from the Wolverines now in hand, he is giving some serious thought to following in Ronnie Bell's footsteps. He is not quite ready to make a decision, but when that time comes, Michigan is going to be hard to beat. "It doesn't get any better than playing football at Michigan," Pesek- Hickson said. "I just need to get up there and visit, and like it. "I'm still going to continue my re- cruitment process, but Michigan is No. 1 by light years." Pesek-Hickson will take as much time as he needs to figure out his fu- ture, but he doesn't think he'll have to wait too long. "I'd like to know what I'm going to do by National Signing Day in Febru- ary, but I have a feeling it'll come a lot sooner," he said. The 6-2, 215-pounder will take an official visit to Michigan Dec. 8 and that day could be the "a lot sooner" date Pesek-Hickson was referring to. — Brandon Brown Michigan has commitments in place from five offensive linemen, so the position group is pretty well cov- ered in the 2019 class. Still, offensive line coach Ed Warinner would love to bring in one more in the form of a true offensive tackle, and he has his sights set on Kansas City (Mo.) Rock- hurst four-star Danielson Ike. The 6-6, 276-pounder traveled to Michigan earlier this year for an unof- ficial visit and enjoyed his time around campus, and with Warinner and the current U-M offensive linemen. As the college football season marches on, Ike is now eyeing some official visits, and U-M is one of the likely destinations. He has been tracking the Wolverines this fall, and the offensive line's development has him intrigued and paying even closer attention down the stretch. "I think they have come a long way from their first game against Notre Dame," Ike said. "I am very impressed with what they are doing with the team. "Coach Warinner and I talk at least once a week, and we exchange text messages every other day. He just tells me how I would be a big addi- tion to their team." Oklahoma is another school that looks certain to get a visit from Ike. Both the Wolverines and Sooners play their final home games Nov. 17, so a post-season visit could be in the cards for at least one of those two schools. As for Ike's remaining official vis- its, the big lineman expects to take those as well and has a couple more likely destinations in mind. "I will take one to Iowa State, but I don't have a date yet for that," he said. "I will take one to Louisville, but I don't have a date for that either. "I have some other schools still in the mix, and I'm going to watch it and see how it goes." Nebraska and Missouri figure to be somewhere in the mix, but Ike hasn't mentioned them as seriously as the other schools he hopes to definitely visit. Ike has only been playing football for two seasons, so he's still learning. However, college programs clearly recognize his talent and upside. He's looking to figure out his recruitment in November because he plans to sign early in December. — Brandon Brown Late U-M Offer Gives Kansas Athlete Something To Think About Missouri Product Is Still An Option At Offensive Tackle Pesek-Hickson "It doesn't get any better than playing football at Michigan. I just need to get up there and visit, and like it. I'm still going to con- tinue my recruit- ment process, but Michigan is No. 1 by light years." ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Rockhurst H.S. Kansas City, Mo. Class: 2019 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-6 • Wt.: 276 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 29 player in Missouri and No. 29 offensive tackle nationally Danielson Ike ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Blue Valley North H.S. Overland Park, Kan. Class: 2019 Position: Athlete Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 215 Rivals.com Rankings: Currently un- rated Amauri Pesek-Hickson Ike on Michigan "I think they have come a long way from their first game against Notre Dame. I am very impressed with what they are doing with the team."

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