Floyd Central lineman makes splash by committing to Ohio State
FLOYDS KNOBS, Ind. (BVM) — Zen Michalski didn鈥檛 start playing football until eighth grade. But just a few years later, the Floyd Central High School senior has committed to play the sport collegiately with one of the top college football programs in the nation.
The 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle played a few sports when he was younger, but never football. However, that would change when his stepdad agreed to buy him a new phone if he tried out for football. From there, Michalski quickly grew to love the sport.
As an eight grader, Michalski often played defensive line and he enjoyed the hitting and physicality of football right off the bat.聽
鈥淚t was definitely something new,鈥� Michalski said. 鈥淚 remember I got my first tackle at practice and I was like, 鈥楳an I love this! This is awesome!鈥欌��
Going into high school at Floyd Central, Michalski didn鈥檛 necessarily have any lofty expectations for himself. In fact, he saw the size and skill of some of the upperclassmen on the team and wasn鈥檛 sure if he鈥檇 be able to compete at the same level.
鈥淚 was just trying to stay alive at football practice with playing with all these bigger guys,鈥� Michalski said.
As a freshman, Michalski was just 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds. He primarily continued to play defensive tackle. By sophomore year, Michalski sprouted up to 6-foot-4, but his weight went down a little bit, causing him to lose some coordination.
鈥淚 was probably one of the most uncoordinated human beings on the planet,鈥� Michalski joked. 鈥淚 looked weird out there, like a big deer.鈥�
However, as a sophomore, Michalski began playing on the offensive side of the ball at tight end. This allowed him to find his athleticism with his increased size. By the end of that second season, Michalski also began experimenting at left tackle. His coach, James Bragg, began to realize that this might be the spot where Michalski fit best.
Over the offseason prior to his junior year, Michalski again sprouted up to 6-foot-6. But it was his weight gain that really allowed him to excel at the tackle position as he jumped up to 240 pounds.聽
鈥淭his year when I gained weight it was everywhere on Twitter,鈥� Michalski explained. 鈥淏ut last year, people didn’t even know that I put on 60 pounds in order to play offensive tackle as a junior. It was a lot of working in the dark but it was definitely fun and I enjoy doing that kind of stuff. I think it鈥檚 really fun to watch your body change and evolve and that鈥檚 really satisfying.鈥�
The body transformation was well worth it for Michalski, as he would shine at his new left tackle position as a junior. In part due to his inexperience of the game, Michalski didn鈥檛 even realize he was having a special season. Part of that comes from the coaching staff at Floyd Central as well, which does a good job of keeping players grounded, never letting them get too high or too low. But it was that 2019 season that changed Michalski鈥檚 football career.
鈥淚 was just going out there and playing and having fun,鈥� Michalski said about his junior season. 鈥淚 thought that I just had an average year and was ready to have a fun senior year. I didn鈥檛 even realize college recruiting started before your senior year so that wasn鈥檛 even in my mind. But it was definitely a big year for me.鈥�
After that campaign, the college offers indeed began rolling in for Michalski. The offensive tackle began garnering interest from several Division I college football programs, and one that caught his eye was very close to home.
This past spring, Michalski verbally committed to play college football at the University of Louisville. The school caught his eye right away and he liked the coaching staff and the fact that it was close to home. At that point, Michalski figured most of the schools that had interest in him had talked to him already. But that would not end up being the case.
During the offseason, Michalski would again improve his body, getting his weight up to 280 pounds. The Floyd Central senior actually credits the quarantine this spring due to COVID-19 for allowing him to focus more on lifting and eating.
Both of us put in a tremendous amount of work but here is mine since you asked馃槀
— Zenuae Michalski (@ZenuaeM)
Predictably, the additional weight gain drew a lot of attention to the football star, with many eager to see his first game of his senior season this fall. Although he is constantly working on his technique, Michalski believes the best part of his game is his athleticism considering his size, and he put that on full display in Game 1 this season.
After that first contest, Michalski started to 鈥済et swarmed by colleges.鈥� Ultimately, the 17-year-old decided to decommit from Louisville so he could evaluate all the new options that continued to pop up for him. As a couple weeks passed by, Michalski narrowed his options down to four: Louisville, Ohio State, Penn State, and Florida State.
ALL Glory to God….
— Zenuae Michalski (@ZenuaeM)
Michalski also ended up receiving late offers from Michigan and Florida. But after he started talking to Ohio State after his Week 1 game, the offensive tackle was hooked. The Buckeyes would wait a couple weeks to officially offer Michalski after he performed well in a game in Ohio against Elder High School. As soon as they did, it was a done deal.
10000% COMMITED 馃吘锔忦煂�
— Zenuae Michalski (@ZenuaeM)
鈥淕etting that offer was crazy and mind-blowing,鈥� Michalski said. 鈥淎bout 10 minutes into our Zoom call, coach Ryan Day extended the offer and it was awesome. That week that I decommitted, I already knew where I was going. I already had my mind made up and was very ready to go to Ohio State. I am very excited about the program, the coaches and everyone there.鈥�
The Floyd Central senior has continued talking with coach Day daily. The Buckeyes鈥� 2021 recruiting class is one of the best in the country, and Michalski is honored to have the chance to play at one of the top college football programs in the nation, while also hoping to make his mark on the team.
鈥淚 just want to be the best I can possibly be there and have the best career possible,鈥� Michalski said. 鈥淚鈥檓 patient with playing time and I just want to have fun really, because that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about. I truly think that when everything is said and done, we will be the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation and I鈥檓 super excited about it. It鈥檚 all just an awesome experience and I鈥檓 so, so happy to be able to be in this position.鈥�
But first, Michalski has business to finish at Floyd Central. The team is now entering the playoffs, something Michalski among others weren鈥檛 sure would happen when the season first started due to the pandemic. It鈥檚 been an overall good season for the lineman, and he hopes to lead the Highlanders on a deep postseason run.
鈥淥ur team is doing great,鈥� Michalski said. 鈥淚 want to go as deep into the playoffs as possible and eat Thanksgiving dinner with my team. I鈥檝e been very happy with myself every game and continue to get better every week as does the team.鈥�
Of course, any good team needs strong leadership at the helm, and Floyd Central has that with coach Bragg. Michalski also knows he would not be anywhere near where he is now without Bragg鈥檚 tutelage over the years.
鈥淐oach Bragg is awesome and is one of the favorite coaches I鈥檝e ever had,鈥� Michalski said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 helped me tremendously with every aspect of my game. As soon as he wanted me to start playing offensive line, he has been there for me for everything along the way.鈥�
As a late-bloomer to the game, Michalski didn鈥檛 even start watching NFL football regularly until last year. He began by watching a Tennessee Titans鈥� game, and immediately noticed their star left tackle, Taylor Lewan. Since, Michalski has looked up to Lewan. And now — although it may have seemed like a pipe dream years ago — Michalski may have the chance to follow in his footsteps someday.
鈥淕osh, it鈥檇 be absolutely awesome,鈥� Michalski said about playing in the NFL. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 definitely a dream and it鈥檚 a dream everyone has in high school. But it鈥檚 something I never thought would be achievable until now really. I just want to keep working hard and stay on the same path I鈥檝e been on. The recruiting process over the last few years has taught me that nothing people say really matters. It ultimately depends on how hard you work and hard work 100% of the time will yield good results.鈥�
