There’s no need to sell the “row the boat” philosophy to Lucas Tielsch. He’s already got his oar.
The Copley offensive tackle went on an official visit to the University of Minnesota June 13-15 and committed after that.
He chose the Golden Gophers over Northwestern and 24 other Division I programs.
Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck has a philosophy in which the oar represents the energy and effort you bring to your life, your work and your relationships. The boat symbolizes the sacrifices you’re willing to make to achieve your goals, and the compass is the direction of your life, influenced by your vision and the people with whom you surround yourself.
“I knew if I went there, I was going to get pushed,” Tielsch said. “I know how hard I can be pushed and how hard I’m going to work when I go there. I love how they want to keep growing, and even when it’s going to get hard you’ve just got to keep pushing.”
Minnesota football picked up a go-getter in Lucas Tielsch
It’s something Copley coach John Kromalic has seen every day in his 6-foot-7, 294-pound senior.
“Lucas is one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever had on and off the field,” Kromalic said. “He fits the ‘row the boat’ philosophy. I think that’s something Minnesota really appreciated once they got to know him and had him on campus for visits. I can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next.”
How Lucas Tielsch fits in the Minnesota system
As things sit right now, the three-star Tielsch will join four-star Andrew Trout, three-star Gavin Meier, three-star Mataalii Benjamin and three-star Daniel McMorris on the offensive line in the Gophers’ 2026 recruiting class.
Tielsch is ranked as the 37th-best player in the state of Ohio and is the No. 68 offensive tackle in the nation.
Last season, he logged 26 pancake blocks and led Copley to its first postseason berth since 2016, minus the COVID season when every team made the playoffs.
“I think I fit in great because of their culture,” Tielsch said. “I love how they love attacking hard things and love working hard. That was a high point for me. I love attacking and I love working hard. Also on the official visit, I got to spend time with some of the commits, Andrew and Gavin. I felt like I fit right in with those two.”
Tielsch, who carries a 3.8 GPA, said he is undecided on a major but is leaning toward a degree somewhere in the business field.
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: College football recruiting | Copley High School OT Lucas Tielsch commits to Minnesota
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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