The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1451622
38 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2022 2022 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY EJ HOLLAND A man known only as 'Pa' is teaching self-defense in the back of a small apartment complex. It's so early that it's still pitch-black outside. Pa, who ap- pears to be in his 70s, is sporting khakis and suspenders — far from the attire one would be expected to wear in the gym. Adjacent to him is towering 6-8 Michi- gan offensive tackle signee Andrew Gen- try. While Pa does a karate chop from what appears to be straight out of the Mr. Miyagi playbook, Gentry finishes his workout session with rapid sets of curls. Aside from Pa and a rack of dumbbells, there are a few machines and treadmills. That's all Gentry has to work with as he prepares to arrive in Ann Arbor in June. "Right now, I'm not too concerned about it," Gentry explained. "I'm not where I was before, and that's OK. If I serve and dedicate everything I have here, the Lord is going to bless me when I return." Sporting a Maize and Blue Michigan hoodie, Gentry can only envision his fu- ture home. U-M is home to state-of-the- art facilities, a weight room around 10 times the size of the one Gentry currently works out in, plus an entire strength and conditioning and nutrition staff. For now, Gentry lives in a reality where he can only lift and condition for half an hour each day. The rest of his time is dedi- cated to a higher purpose. THE ULTIMATE MISSION It's 6 p.m. in Orem, Utah, and the tem- perature is beginning to dip into the low 30s. After a canceled teaching appoint- ment, Gentry and his companion, Hyrum Johnson, a lanky 21-year-old about eight inches shorter than Gentry, are getting ready to go door-to-door to spread their message. Here, Gentry is no longer a much-bal- lyhooed football recruit out of Littleton (Colo.) Columbine. He's not even Andrew. As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is known to all as Elder Gentry — a respectful title typically reserved for missionaries. Gentry is 19 months into his two-year mission. While he did have the option to postpone or forgo his mission entirely and play college football right away, Gen- try felt compelled to temporarily pause school and football to pursue his faith — missionaries can only have a full two- year experience between the ages of 18 and 25. During their mission, the young men and women work tirelessly to build a per- sonal connection with the central figure of their religion, Jesus Christ, assist com- munities through teachings and service, and recruit others to join the church. "Our purpose is to invite everyone to come up to Jesus Christ by helping them receive the principles that we teach — in faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end," Gentry said. "It's cool because what you're teaching these people will bring them joy not only in this life but the life to come. What you are doing is making an impact that will change lives forever." Gentry and Johnson strongly believe in their faith. That's why on this particularly bitter winter night, they have absolutely no issue braving the weather and inviting strangers to follow a similar spiritual path. This particular neighborhood isn't ex- actly affluent, either. Gentry and Johnson have been assigned to conduct their work with a growing Hispanic community in Orem, Utah. The fastest-growing popu- lation in Utah is of Hispanic ethnicity. Immigrants from different parts of Mex- MAN ON A MISSION After Two Years Away From Football, Andrew Gentry Is Bringing Lessons Learned As A Missionary To Michigan When Gentry originally came out of Littleton (Colo.) Columbine High in the class of 2020, all three recruiting services at the time listed him as a four-star prospect and one of the nation's top 150 recruits overall. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND