Michael Warren, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior offensive/defensive lineman from Providence Academy, was recently named to the KARE-11 and Star Tribune All-Metro teams.
Michael Warren, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior offensive/defensive lineman from Providence Academy, was recently named to the KARE-11 and Star Tribune All-Metro teams. Warren attended the recent Minnesota-Michigan game and has been offered a preferred-walk-on spot with the team. GopherHole.com recently caught up with Warren to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Warren helped pace the Lions to a 7-3 record this season, losing to Jordan 31-28 in overtime in the Class 3A, Section 2 finals.
Warren helped lead the Lions to a 10-3 mark as a junior as they lost to eventual state champion St. Croix Lutheran 58-29 in the Class AAA semifinals. They finished in a three-way tie in the Tri-Metro West Conference.
GopherHole.com caught up with Warren to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: I have seen you at several Minnesota homes games this season. How many have you been to so far?
Michael Warren: I have been to three.
Gopher Hole: Have you made to any other college games this fall?
Michael Warren: I have been to an Iowa game, Holy Cross game, Yale game and North Dakota.
Gopher Hole: You went down to the “U” recently and talked to the coaches. What did they have a chance to say to you?
Michael Warren: I feel that they are genuine in how they are with me. They have stayed true to their belief about recruiting in-state kids. I am really happy to be a part of that.
Gopher Hole: They have a few players who are playing a lot like Caleb Bak and Jon Christenson who were preferred walk-ons. Does that make you that if you do what you are supposed to that you could get a scholarship and get out on the field?
Michael Warren: Yes. That is definitely what they say how just because you are a preferred walk-on doesn’t mean that you don’t have the opportunity to play. Just like any other player, if you put in the work in the offseason and during training camp and all that stuff, just like any other player, you have the opportunity to play and potentially get that scholarship. That is one thing that they have told me that just because of the low number of scholarships this year that with next year’s many scholarships that they possibly have an opportunity to get a scholarship my sophomore year.
Gopher Hole: Are you leaning one way or another yet? Or is it still kind of early?
Michael Warren: It is still early, but I definitely would say that I am leaning a lot more towards Minnesota right now. I actually grew up an Ohio State fan, so I grew up watching Big Ten football and I love Big Ten football. I feel that it is a great opportunity to play at the highest level. I would say that I am definitely leaning towards Minnesota.
Gopher Hole: What others schools are you hearing from besides the Gophers?
Michael Warren: The other schools that I am hearing from would be the five FCS schools that I have offers from and schools that I have visited. I have also been hearing from Wyoming as well. Right now, I would say that Minnesota would be my biggest choice and then it would probably come down to Ivy Leagues. With Dartmouth and Cornell, I have gotten the green flag with the admission, so if I were to apply there, I would get in. It is a big decision, weighing the football and the Big Ten compared to the education of the Ivy Leagues, but it is still a big decision.
Gopher Hole: Are you going to play hoops this season or have you decided on that?
Michael Warren: Actually, I have decided to play basketball this year. Last year, I missed the basketball season. I missed being with the team and all that stuff. It is a great sport to work on footwork and speed. Last year, when I worked with Bill Welle (a local trainer who works out with Larry Fitzgerald among others) and I love Bill Welle and I think that it definitely helped me improve, but that was also when I was focusing on D line and Minnesota said offensive line, so I feel that I should just work on my footwork with basketball.