Coveted DT Recruit Corey Bolds Plans SEC Tour, Has 'Big Brothers' at Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines secured six New Jersey prospects in a 2016 recruiting class that ranked among college football's finest national signing day hauls. Head coach Jim Harbaugh again has sights set on the Garden State in the 2017 cycle, with defensive tackle Corey Bolds emerging as a primary target.
The 6'3", 276-pound Paramus Catholic High School junior shares a tight bond with several members of Michigan's latest class. Most notably, he spent the past two seasons playing alongside No. 1 overall 2016 prospect Rashan Gary.
"I learned a lot from Rashan watching him be the guy who offenses game-planned around," Bolds told Bleacher Report. "He never let all the pressure get to him, on the field and with his recruitment. I saw how he handled it and now I need to go handle things the same way."
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Gary, now just a month shy of enrolling in Ann Arbor, spent time with his high school teammate on the sidelines of New York Jets facilities Sunday in Florham Park. Bolds participated in The Opening's New Jersey Regional, where Gary earned invitations to The Opening National Finals in 2014 and 2015.
The pipeline between Bolds' home turf and Michigan run deeper than his fellow Paladins lineman. Wolverines assistant coach Chris Partridge previously served as Paramus Catholic head coach before accepting a position on Harbaugh's staff last year.
"I'm very close with Coach Partridge," Bolds said. "He's someone I can text or call anytime, and it doesn't have to be about football. He's there to listen and help me any way he can."
Partridge plays a pivotal role in Michigan's attempts to lure top talent out of New Jersey. Among the six athletes he helped sign this past winter, several have a close relationship with Bolds.
"Those guys are like big brothers to me, and I can always look to them for advice," he said.
Along with those Wolverines newcomers, Bolds also looks up to former Paramus Catholic standouts Jabrill Peppers and Juwann Bushell-Beatty, who are both entering their third year at Michigan.
Considering these personal ties to the program, it's understood turning down a Wolverines offer wouldn't be easy.
"It would be pretty hard to say no, but none of those guys are making me feel forced," he said. "They want me to come play with them but they all remind me to go through my recruitment like they did and find the best place for me."
Bolds' search for an ideal collegiate fit hasn't been lonely. Paramus Catholic junior Drew Singleton consistently accompanies him on recruiting trips. Coaches typically speak with them together, rather than separating into one-on-one sessions.
"I call him my brother," Bolds said. "We talk about everything in the recruiting process and we've been planning since freshman year to go to the same college. We speak to each other about which schools we like and which schools we don't like. It takes some of the weight off when you have someone going though the same thing as you."
He referred to the possibility of a "package deal" that would place this defensive duo in the same recruiting class. They explored various possibilities in April, traveling to spring games at Michigan, Clemson and Rutgers.
The Wolverines were first in their itinerary, and it was Bolds' third trip to Ann Arbor.
"The atmosphere was special," he said. "I had fans come up to ask for my autograph and take pictures with me. You can feel the overall love there, and it's just an amazing place to be."
Clemson hosted them the following weekend. Bolds previously spent time with the Tigers in January, and this latest stay presented the chance to gain a greater sense of the university's environment.
"It was pretty exciting," he said. "They're just coming off a trip to the national championship and the whole campus had a lot of excitement. The fans love you, they love the team. I signed a bunch of autographs there too."
In-state Rutgers had an opportunity to impress two weeks later when first-year head coach Chris Ash welcomed the local standouts for spring game festivities. Bolds departed Piscataway feeling positive vibes.
"I'm definitely impressed so far," he said. "They've picked up some big commitments lately, and I love what Coach Ash is doing. I love his intensity and the staff's energy as a whole. They're looking to build something special and really harping on New Jersey guys to stay home."
While Bolds wouldn't deem this trio of universities as an outright top three, each presents a high comfort level for him. He expects to spend some time sorting through various collegiate opportunities with family while eventually figuring out definitive favorites.
The situation could look drastically different within a few weeks.
Bolds will visit Penn State later this month, marking his first trip to Happy Valley since he attended the team's 2015 matchup with Michigan (a 28-16 Wolverines win). He'll then turn his attention south in June, lining up a four-school tour of SEC territory.
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are anticipated destinations during an eventual journey. Among that group, only Mississippi State has yet to extend a scholarship offer.
While Knoxville isn't a stop on his upcoming trip, Bolds expects to separately spend a weekend at Tennessee sometime soon. He hoped to be in the bleachers for the Volunteers spring game but wasn't able to attend.
With at least six schools in line to host him before the season, there's a strong likelihood this recruiting process will undergo alterations as Bolds attempts to focus on favorites. He's taking plenty into consideration during each stop along the way.
"When I visit schools, I don't like thinking about being a football player," Bolds said. "I like to think about if I'd be happy there as a regular student going to class every day, studying and living on campus. Football can come and go, so I need to be at a place where I feel comfortable."
When it comes to comfort, competitors will have a tough time contending with Michigan. He aims to visit Ann Arbor again this summer after Gary arrives on campus and intends to use an official visit for a Wolverines game.
Bolds may not need to utilize many official visits this fall if his recruitment reaches its conclusion within a desired time frame.
"I want to commit by my birthday (Sept. 28), but if I don't feel like the time is right I'm going to hold it out, take all my official visits and make the best decision I can," he said.
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