Tigers interested in two sport defensive end

by Nikki Hood - Staff Writer - Wed Apr 03 00:19:07 GMT-04:00 2013

Michael Preddy Michael Preddy
Defensive End
6-5, 240
Charleston, SC
View Full Profile ’s answer to a call for help from his school football team has led to attention from several of the Southeast’s top programs, including Clemson.

The 6-5, 240-pound Porter Gaud defensive end went out for the football team after noticing that the team would be short-staffed, and burst on the scene with 94 tackles and 16 sacks during his junior season.

Preddy told TigerNet that he ended his two-year hiatus from football simply to help his team in whatever way he could.

“I played back in middle school and I didn’t play my first two years in high school,” Preddy told TigerNet last week. “As my sophomore year ended, I heard that our football team was going to need a lot of help because we were losing a bunch of good players, so I decided I would come out because when I played in the eighth grade I loved it. I just thought that I would come out and help the team doing whatever I could and hopefully get some wins.”

Preddy is hearing from several ACC and SEC schools in addition to Clemson, including a recent offer from future ACC member Louisville.

“At the moment, my recruiting is going pretty good,” he said. “I have schools like South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, and UNC Charlotte looking at me. As of yesterday, I realized that I received an offer from Louisville.”

Clemson hasn’t offered yet, but running backs coach Tony ElliottTony Elliott
Assistant Coach / Running Backs
View Full Profile told Preddy that he wants to see the speed rusher in person at one of Clemson’s summer camps.

“As of right now, I’m hearing that I need to go to one of their camps, which I plan on doing this summer,” Preddy said.

Preddy already has ties to the Clemson program after playing basketball with current Tiger tight end Stanton Seckinger.

“He was a senior when I was a freshman coming in. I didn’t play football with him, but we were both teammates of the basketball court,” he said. “He was actually down here Monday giving a speech at our spring awards assembly. I talked to him for a little while. He just told me to have fun [with the recruiting process].”

Clemson’s proximity to Charleston is a major draw for Preddy.

“I like the fact that it’s not too far away from my family and it’s in state

so I won’t be too far away from my family,” Preddy said.

After participating in a recent Under Armour event, Preddy has a busy spring planned, as he will try to visit all of the schools that are showing him interest.

“I got invited to the Under Armour Camp on the 14th of April. I’m visiting USC this weekend,” he said. “I’m going to visit Clemson, UNC Charlotte, Georgia, Florida St. Since I received an offer from Louisville, I’m going to try to head up there.”

Preddy is also a standout on the basketball court, averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks during his junior season, earning him looks from Presbyterian, The Citadel, and Xavier.