The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1340560
2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CHRIS BALAS Michigan head coach Jim Har- baugh and his staff have had a lot of recruiting success in New England over the past few years, to the point that it's almost expected a highly ranked prospect from the area will have U-M in his final five. Whether that changes with area recruiter Don Brown having left for Arizona remains to be seen, but it's clear the Wolverines have pulled some of the best players from the re- gion recently, from Rhode Island de- fensive end and projected first-round NFL Draft pick Kwity Paye in 2017 to Massachusetts four-star guard Zak Zinter in 2020. Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rose- mary Hall's Tristan Bounds is Michi- gan's latest outstanding pull from the Northeast. The 6-8, 305-pounder con- tinues to put on good weight, work- ing diligently in the weight room since his 2020 senior season was can- celed due to COVID-19 concerns and adding 25 pounds. The four-star prospect has gotten better every year, Rivals.com East Coast recruiting analyst Adam Fried- man noted, and has a high ceiling. "I really like the way Tristan has developed over the last few years," he said. "I saw him a while back as a really skinny, lanky, uncoordi- nated lineman just coming into his own, but he's really filled out … and he's filled out with solid muscle, not flabby weight. "That's allowed him to improve his coordination, his quickness and be more aggressive and assertive with his motions." He's still a bit of a project, Fried- man added, but he's gotten a lot stronger, a trait that will help him when he hits the football field at Michigan. "He's got all the measurables — the height, the weight. With a strength and conditioning program like Michigan's, they'll continue to work on his frame; not only his up- per body, but also his lower body and flexibility," he continued. "He's got to play with better leverage, but he should maintain the quickness he has with added weight for being such an athletic guy." That athleticism and ability to move are some of the traits that caught Harbaugh's eye on film, and a big reason Bounds earned scholar- ship offers from programs like Notre Dame, UCLA and Nebraska, among others. He pledged to U-M last June, citing the Ross School of Business, Harbaugh's sincerity and Michigan's tradition with offensive linemen as big reasons why, and hasn't looked back. Never a big fan of the recruiting process, Bounds remained firm with the Wolverines after his pledge and vocal about his hopes that Harbaugh Offensive Tackle Tristan Bounds Continues To Rise The 6-8, 305-pound Bounds has bulked up with 25 pound of good weight and was elevated from three- to four-star status despite having his senior campaign canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND 40 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2021 TRISTAN BOUNDS OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-8 • 305 CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL WALLINGFORD, CONN. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 25* 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 47* 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 59* 3 * Ranked at offensive tackle HONORS • Named to the Sports Illustrated All- American watch list prior to the 2020 season. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan on June 1, 2020. • Also had offers from Boston Col- lege, Maryland, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Texas, UCLA and others. • Recruited by former offensive line coach Ed Warinner. DID YOU KNOW? • His senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. • Attended Episcopal High School in Virginia prior to transferring to Choate Rosemary Hall. • Was also a standout basketball player in high school. • Enrolled early at Michigan.