The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516256
2024 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ 46 THE WOLVERINE ❱ MARCH 2024 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Brady Prieskorn will play tight end for Michigan, but he mostly lined up as an outside receiver for Rochester (Mich.) Adams. He wasn't featured as much as some receivers, either, since the High- landers run an option-heavy offense, but that didn't frustrate him. He still showed his route-running, catching and blocking ability, notched sc h o l a rs h i p o f fe rs f ro m b i g - t i m e schools across the country and chose to stay home at Michigan. "He's a matchup nightmare," Roch- ester Adams head coach Tony Patritto said. "He played outside and played everything that we asked of him. He played defensive end. He put his hand in the dirt and played 110 downs, which is difficult, especially because he's a big kid. But he never complained. "We're an option team, and we didn't throw the ball a lot, but he never once came to me and said, 'Coach, throw me the ball.' That's so special, and I have so much respect for him for that. He's a game-changer. He made such huge plays and was never intimidated by any- one." Since 2015, Michigan has used 11 personnel — 1 running back and 1 tight end — on just 40 percent of its offen- sive snaps, the sixth-lowest rate in the Power Five. The Wolverines often use multiple tight ends, featuring them in the offense. In 2023, a season in which the Maize and Blue won the national champion- ship with a 15-0 record, junior tight end Colston Loveland ranked second on the team with 649 receiving yards. AJ Barner, now an NFL Draft prospect, was fourth at 249 yards. New head coach Sherrone Moore was a tight ends coach for the majority of his career as an assis- tant and understands the importance of the position and how to utilize it. "I can't wait," Prieskorn said of play- ing for the Wolverines. "Michigan, obviously, uses tight ends. They used Barner and Colston the whole year, and I can't wait to be a part of it. "I feel like I can bring everything to the table. Whatever I have to do, I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes." Prieskorn enjoyed taking visits to schools around the nation, but he landed on one that's not far from home. The brotherhood of the players and strong culture were the main reasons why, he noted. He'd advise future high- caliber in-state recruits to stay home, as well. "The best players in Michigan stay in Michigan, and that should be how it is from now on, forever," Prieskorn said. "It's a blessing. You always want to go to the big college from your hometown or where you live, and I'm really happy I'm going to Michigan. We're going to continue to dominate." The 6-6, 220-pounder began prac- ticing with Michigan in December, ahead of the Rose Bowl and national championship game. Spring practices are around the corner, and that's when he'll look to begin making a significant impact. "I'll bring energy, and I'll try to get people better every day and I'll get bet- ter every day," Prieskorn said. ❑ 'Matchup Nightmare' Brady Prieskorn Has All The Tools At Tight End Prieskorn received state-wide Dream Team honors from the Detroit Free Press and was a Metro Detroit Dream team selection by MLive as a senior at Rochester (Mich.) Adams. PHOTO BY ZACH LIBBY 2024 Projection Junior ght end Colston Loveland is slated to be Michigan's featured player at the posi- on this fall, but Prieskorn is one who could emerge as a contender for snaps at the back end of the rota on. More than likely, though, Prieskorn will see limited me, perhaps mostly on special teams, like most of the Wolverines' recent freshman ght ends. STATISTICS Year Rec. Yds. TD 2023 33 665 8 2022 24 548 10 2021 35 820 10 HONORS • Named a PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team All- American • Tabbed all-state for Division 1-2 each of his final two high school seasons (2022, 2023). • Was a state-wide Dream Team honoree by the Detroit Free Press and Metro Detroit Dream team selec on by MLive (2023). RECRUITMENT • Pledged to the Wolverines April 25, 2023. • Picked U-M over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, Ole Miss and others. • His primary recruiter was Grant Newsome, then U-M's ght ends coach, now offensive line coach. DID YOU KNOW? • Enrolled early at Michigan. • A two-way standout who also played defen- sive end. • Also a varsity starter in basketball since his freshman year for Rochester Adams; averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds his junior year while leading the team to a regional tle. • His older brother, Caden Prieskorn, is cur- rently a ght end at Ole Miss. • Son of Jill Prieskorn and the late Jerry Prieskorn. • Born May 29, 2005. THEY SAID IT Rochester Adams High School Head Coach Tony Patri o: "When all of the offers started rolling in, it was the intangibles that the college coaches really liked. The fact that he was a good basketball player, the fact that he was a good teammate, that he played defense and he blocked his tail off when we ran the ball. Those things coaches no ced because that made him a team guy. Not to men on that he's 6-6. That's what separates good athletes from the rest." BRADY PRIESKORN TIGHT END 6-6 • 220 ROCHESTER ADAMS HIGH LAKE ORION, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 150 10 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 184 12 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 225 14 4 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 72 1 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 155 8 4 INDUSTRY