After his junior year Huron High School, Blaise Stearns felt his coaches were underutilizing him on the football field, and not helping him realize his dream of playing college football off of it. One year later and Stearns won’t have to travel far to realize his dream. Stearns was offered a walk-on spot with the Michigan football team and will join the team in the fall.

"I’ve always liked Michigan football and it’s a great opportunity to stay close to home and get to play college football and attend a great school,” said Stearns, who spent his senior season at Father Gabriel Richard High School.

Stearns said transferring schools was motivated by football and it was made easier by the fact that many of the friends he grew up with were already at Richard.

“I wasn’t getting any help in recruiting or any notice and really wanted to get in the college football scene, so I decided to make a switch so I could get an opportunity to play football,” Stearns said. “It was definitely a good decision, recruiting-wise, first off because the team was a lot better in the division and a better group of coaches and support.

“The coaches were really good with helping in the recruiting process.”

Stearns found himself in need of assistance from Richard head coach Brian Lemons when the coaches at Yale - the Ivy League school he planned on playing for - decided to go in a different direction late in the recruiting process.

Stearns attended the Michigan football camp in the summer where Lemons worked. According to Lemons, Stearns “tested through the roof.” A 6-foot-3, 200 pound receiver and safety, Stearns ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and tested well in other drills as well. Stearns said Lemons helped him get in contact with the staff at Michigan after the opportunity at Yale fell through and eventually a walk-on offer transpired.

Stearns has a spot guaranteed on the squad, but won’t join until after school is in session in the fall.

“He’ll have a shot just like every other walk-on has a shot and that’s really all you can ever ask for,” Lemons said. “My understanding is he’ll get the chance to redshirt and be on scout team and can work from there.”

Stearns transferred to Father Gabriel Richard before his senior season, where he flourished for the Fighting Irish. On offense, he had 25 receptions for 540 yards and seven touchdowns despite Richard’s starting quarterback being injured for much of the season. Stearns also rushed for three touchdowns and on defense had four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and made 24 tackles.

“His senior year he was a unique player, put some things on tape, and he tested really well at camp and impressed people,” Lemons said. “I’m really excited for him.”

Richard went 11-2 and made it all the way to the Division 5 state semifinals last season. Stearns said he isn’t sure which position he’ll be looked at with Michigan.

“It’s a possibility either way, wide receiver or safety, it just depends on what they decide to put me at,” Stearns said. “It’s really great to get this opportunity.

• Related: Wednesday, April 17 is the opening of the regular signing period for basketball and several other sports. Check AnnArbor.com's high school sports home page later for signings from area athletes.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.