While touring the Michigan campus during an official visit earlier this month, four-star linebacker Semaj Bridgman felt like he had found his home.
He just wanted to make sure he made another official visit – Rutgers to Midweek last week.
That visit changed nothing for the Philadelphia Imhotep Prospect, so he got organized and announced his commitment to Wolverine on Friday.
“I know it’s right for me because on my official visit when I went there, they showed me the plan for me, they showed me my movie and how I fit into their defensive plans,” Bridgman said. “My relationship with (linebackers) coach (George) Hello, coach Luxury, (assistant) coach (Grant) News has continued, so it was great.”
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound bridgeman, ranked No. 5 in Pennsylvania in the 247-sport rankings, was in the top six, which included Georgia, Oregon, Alabama and South Carolina.
However, Michigan overcame him during his official visit on June 10-12.
“I knew I was on campus for my officer,” he said. “I just got the feeling, ‘This is the right place for me.’
“I evaluated it really well and I was going back to my hotel room, thinking about it, talking to my parents about it and they were telling me their opinions and I was telling them my opinion, so I knew when I was on campus.”
Echoed defensive fit Bridgeman as middle linebacker.
“In Michigan’s scheme, MIKE ‘backers can blow the edge, blitz a gap, put in coverage, cover the receiver. They have versatility with MIKE’ backers.
“He shows me my game. So it’s basically like what I’m doing in high school, and it’s like a transition, a very high level. So I just adapt and adapt but I was doing it. That’s why I think it’s right.”
Bridgman also considered Michigan’s non-sporting reputation and alumni connections when choosing a school.
“My decision was very important because football is going to end one day, and in the process my parents are telling me again,” he said. “Also, my mom is big on education, so Michigan, and being a heavy academic school was very hard for her. That’s why she loved it so much.”
Bridgman was scheduled to visit Georgia over the weekend after a trip to Michigan, but he canceled it. He then went to Rutgers, the school he had visited several times, for an official visit, so he was compared before making a choice.
“It’s kind of reassuring because the recruitment process is stressful,” he said. “I finally found where I wanted to be and I was able to grow and develop beyond football and on the football field.
“Also, I’m glad I was able to fulfill my dream of going to college for free.”
