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Michigan football offered four offensive linemen in the 2022 class from the state of Colorado on Tuesday, the first available day that coaches could reach out to the incoming high school juniors. Among them was Monument (CO) Palmer Ridge three-star offensive tackle Connor Jones.
Jones already has prototypical size at 6-foot-6, 280-pounds, despite being a high school junior at this point. And getting the call from Wolverines offensive line coach Ed Warinner early this morning to let him know that one of his self-proclaimed ‘dream schools’ was extending an offer, it really made his day.
“He actually texted me, sent me a text this morning,” Jones told WolverinesWire. “So I gave him a call and we chatted. Basically we chatted about what he’s seen with me and my work so far. He said I’m the type of guy he wants at Michigan and extended the offer to me. Then after that, he broke down what the offer means and it was a pretty good conversation.
“I kind of freaked out a little bit. Michigan is one of my dream schools. Getting that especially – it happened at like 6 a.m. this morning, I was leaving the gym. It was just crazy and unexpected.”
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But why is Michigan a dream school for a prospect south of Denver? Not only does Ann Arbor offer everything he’s looking for, but he’s avidly watched the Wolverines with his father.
Though he also lists Northwestern, Boise State, Colorado State and Arizona State among his favorites — he only has an offer from Colorado State at this juncture — what Michigan has academically is something of a perfect fit.
“For one, it has a great degree plan for sports medicine which is what I want to go into,” Jones said. “Me and my dad have sat down and watched countless Michigan games my whole life growing up. It’s a school I’d be a good fit at.
“And also I know Coach Warinner is really good at developing guys to get to the league, so it’s a pretty good opportunity for me as well.”
Beyond the prestige of the facade, Jones already knows what Michigan can offer him. With a plan to study sports medicine at the next level, he’s already well aware of the university’s prowess in that regard.
But beyond that, he’s looking for a college that can offer more than just academics. As we hear often, he’s looking for his next ‘home.’
“I really want a school that has a good atmosphere and feels good to me,” Jones said. “I want a school that feels like I belong there. I want it to feel like a home, not like an institute. And really I just want a place I can really excel in my academics, because my plan B is sports medicine, and that’s how I’m gonna stay close to the game if I don’t make it all the way to the NFL.”
As a 2022 recruit, there’s still a lot of time for Jones to make some decisions. But, he’d like to have everything wrapped up by a year from now. It just a matter of collecting offers and seeing some campuses before he makes his choice.
“Definitely by senior year,” “I don’t have a timeframe in mind right now. I’ll know what I know when I get out to visit some of these schools and I’m definitely gonna commit by my senior year for sure.”