2020 3-star OT Jeffrey Persi calls Michigan offer ‘a true honor’

I’ve already covered one of the beneficiaries of the several offers the Michigan coaching staff made out in California this week. Well, another player who picked up a scholarship was 3-star offensive tackle Jeffrey Persi.

Maize n Brew caught up with Persi after he received his offer to see what his feelings toward the program are.

Michigan offensive line coach Ed Warinner offered Persi after stopping by his school. Persi called receiving the offer “a true honor” and “he’s really excited about it.”

Persi currently holds offers from a mix of West Coast schools (UCLA, USC, Cal, Utah, Washington State) and highly academic schools (Duke, Northwestern, Vanderbilt).

Talking with him, that academic sentiment certainly comes through. When asked about what he was looking for in a college, academics was one of the main factors.

“I want to attend a school that supports student athletes and the goals of achieving a degree of the athlete’s choice,” Persi said. “Like every other athlete, I have a dream to play beyond college and I understand how difficult that may be, while also achieving a meaningful degree.”

He also had a well thought out answer about what he wants to major in at whatever school he chooses.

“I’m not 100 percent sure but I believe it will be a business major. I just met with a business professor at Cal this weekend and really was interested in his philosophies with a degree in business,” Persi said. “Really can’t go wrong with it. I’ve also considered engineering but I’m not sure if it’s the right choice for me.”

Besides academics, he also listed family culture as something of great importance to him.

“It’s also important to me that I surround myself with a family of coaches and brothers who support each other and whatever their individual goals are,” he said. “I certainly know about Michigan football but I’m looking forward to doing my research on the school.”

Persi is just starting his development on the offensive line. The 6-foot-7, 265-pounder didn’t play tackle until this past season.

“I’ve always been a tight end and defensive end growing up,” Persi said. “It wasn’t until transferring out of Mater Dei High School after my sophomore season to JSerra, and getting to learn from coach Pat Harlow that I found my home.”

His frame is perfect for an offensive line coach to mold into a Big Ten caliber player. It falls in the recent trend of taking undersized linemen and building up their size, rather than trying to trim down already massive players.

After receiving the offer, Persi immediately started planning out a visit, saying he’d “like to get out there as soon as I can” and he’d “definitely be talking with my parents to see when it will be possible.”

As for the distance from California, Persi said he’s thought about it, but it won’t be a big deal for him. Neither will the striking difference in weather.

“The distance nor weather is really a factor at all. I’ve heard that West Coast athletes have issues leaving for schools in the East and they have issues with the weather,” Persi admitted. “For me it’s pretty easy, given the opportunity to attend a great school, achieve a great education and be a part of a great program, an airline ticket and a jacket are easy for visits and to keep you warm.”

Persi says he doesn’t really have a top group, but a couple schools are sticking out to him.

“I’m honestly open to all schools right now. I can say that conversations with coaches from Stanford and Oklahoma are certainly appealing, but with the schools who have offered me currently I’m blessed with such great opportunities from them all,” Persi said.

He’s not sure when he’ll make a decision, but “hopefully by the end of summer” so he can “focus on my senior season and any instruction from my future strength and position coach prior to the arrival into the program.”

Persi certainly seems like a well-adjusted young man who has thought through this decision process thoroughly. After he gets another season on the offensive line under his belt, and given the staff’s track record of unearthing talent, Persi is a candidate to rise up in the rankings as the process goes along.

The Wolverines are already involved with several touted offensive lineman for 2020, and it looks like they’ve added one more.

Check out Persi’s junior highlights below: