Germantown’s Edmonds ready to compete with Michigan’s elite

Daily News (West Bend, Wis.)
Published: Feb. 4, 2016

Germantown’s Edmonds ready to compete with Michigan’s elite

Warhawks’ Zachowski signs with St. Cloud State

By NICHOLAS DETTMANN

Daily News

GERMANTOWN — A president, world leaders, actors, actresses, astronauts, Super Bowl MVPs and Hall of Famers in football and baseball have attended the University of Michigan.

Germantown’s Conner Edmonds admitted that’s intimidating.

But a roughly 30-minute conversation between him and Wolverines football coach Jim Harbaugh eased the nerves he had as he accepted a preferred walk-on offer to play for Harbaugh and the Wolverines in the fall.

“It meant the world to me,” Edmonds said.

“It definitely made me feel a lot more comfortable about coming to Michigan,” he added. “I was nervous. I didn’t know what was the plan, but he laid it for me and how it could happen.”

Edmonds signed the offer Wednesday.

“It’s starting to sink in,” Edmonds said. “Not 100 percent yet.

“Right now I’m just enjoying the process. But then I know when I get there in the summer and the fall, I’m going to have to work hard and prove myself.”

Edmonds’ teammate Brad Zachowski was also recognized by Germantown on Wednesday as he signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at St. Cloud State in Minnesota.

“I’m very excited,” Zachowski said. “I’m blessed for the opportunity.”

Edmonds, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound tight end, also considered offers from Air Force Academy, Cornell and Valparaiso, and several Division II programs, while Zachowski, a 6-2, 195-pound wide receiver, had an offer from Sioux Falls and several preferred walk-on offers, including Bemidji State.

Edmonds said he plans to study athletic training or personal training at Michigan. Zachowski wants to pursue pharmacy.

Last season, Zachowski was first-team All-North Shore and All-Region by the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association, and first-team Daily News All-County.

“It was fun, but it was also pretty stressful at times,” Zachowski said of the recruiting process. “There’s lots of planning, decisionmaking, tough calls.” For Edmonds, he will join a program that is generating national buzz. Heck, Michigan even threw a party for its signing day, “Signing of the Stars.” At the party were four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady, Future MLB Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, WWE legend Ric Flair, NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski, Hall of Fame football coach Lou Holtz and Super Bowl MVP and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard. Country music singer Josh Gracin was also on-hand.

That’s Michigan. It draws the brightest minds and the best talent, and they often make an impact on the world with more than 450,000 living alumni, according to the school’s alumni association. His future coach played in the NFL and coached in a Super Bowl.

“It was different,” Edmonds said of meeting with Harbaugh. “I was nervous walking in there. Sitting there he made me feel like I’ll be a part of it.”

As maybe a credit to what Michigan sees in Edmonds, he was voted firstteam All-NSC despite missing some games because of an injury. In his senior season, he had eight catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.

Yet, Michigan still made an offer. And when it came down to deciding, Edmonds was grateful for how genuine and honest Harbaugh was with him.

That’s why he picked Michigan.

“It was a tremendous opportunity,” Edmonds said. “I couldn’t turn it down.”

Even if football doesn’t pan out, Edmonds knows a degree from Michigan is an attention grabber — another reason to go to Michigan.

“The future is bright both athletically and academically,” Edmonds said. “Going there will help me not only four years, but for 40 years.”

Edmonds announced a week ago he was going to Michigan, which came not long after he was told by Germantown coach Jake Davis about the offer from the Wolverines.

For a visit, Edmonds attended the Michigan-Michigan State game.

“It was unreal,” Edmonds said of the atmosphere of a stadium that holds more than 110,000 people.

As a preferred walk-on, he knows he will have to work hard to get into the lineup. It was an issue he considered when making the decision.

“They play a lot of tight ends, so that could still be an opportunity,” Edmonds said, adding the challenge of trying to excel at Michigan was worth pursing.