Tristan Dare never thought he’d play football — let alone commit to the winningest college football program of all time. Now a Michigan pledge in the 2027 recruiting class, Dare still chuckles when reminiscing about his childhood. He played basketball, dabbled into baseball and even started mastering the piano at just nine years old. Football, […]
Tristan Dare never thought he’d play football — let alone commit to the winningest college football program of all time.
Now a Michigan pledge in the 2027 recruiting class, Dare still chuckles when reminiscing about his childhood. He played basketball, dabbled into baseball and even started mastering the piano at just nine years old. Football, though, was a non-starter.
“Growing up, I thought football was a dangerous sport,” Dare said. “Why would people want to come at each other headfirst? I never grew up watching football. I was definitely more of a basketball and baseball guy. I was so opposed to playing.”
But opinions can change fast.
Dare realized that when he moved from Northern California to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in middle school. Texas lives and breathes football, and DFW is home to some of the nation’s most talented teams and prospects.
Still, Dare said he didn’t realize the magnitude of football in Texas and had to be pushed into giving the sport a try.
Even then, Dare needed a push to give the sport a try. That came from his father, Trevor.
“The program in seventh grade had a lot to do with camaraderie, teamwork and life lessons,” Trevor said. “I wasn’t focused on him excelling on the field, per se. I just wanted him to be part of a sport that Texas really cherishes. There is a reason why. You can learn a lot from football like discipline, hard work and getting out of your comfort zone.”
Tristan accepted the challenge.
His view of football shifted, and his natural size and athleticism allowed him to dominate inferior competition at Grapevine (Texas) Faith, a small private school.
“One of the things that separates him is he’s a smart kid, so his football IQ shows up on the field,” Trevor said. “He’s also passionate. Once he started to enjoy it, he strived for excellence. When you strive for excellence, good things happen. God also blessed him with his size and some pretty quick feet.”
Eager for greater competition, Tristan transferred to juggernaut Southlake (Texas) Carroll — one of the state’s most storied high school programs.
From the iconic Dragon logo to the playoff tradition of black pants and blonde hair, Southlake Carroll was a completely different world for Tristan. But it didn’t take long for him to thrive.
After spending most of his time as a defensive end as a freshman, Tristan transitioned over to the offensive line. He earned a starting spot, notched all-district honors and saw his recruitment boom with offers from the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and Stanford.
“I took a big leap of faith,” Tristan said. “I really believed in myself. The attention to detail and the grind at Southlake Carroll is amazing. There aren’t many programs in the country that are up as early as we are, are in meetings as long as we are and doing all the extra work. It’s really helpful because all that work shows up on the field.”
Tristan never shied away from the extra hours needed to learn the very technical craft of being an offensive lineman or making the jump to top level competition.
After all, he comes from a strong Chinese American household that values discipline, determination and a relentless work ethic.
“I have a lot of respect for my Chinese heritage and the Asian culture,” Tristan said. “My dad’s whole side is Chinese. I want to represent that well. I want to show that as best as I can here and at the next level. I want to show what that means — family oriented, being humble, integrity and letting my hard work show.”
Sounds a lot like a Michigan Man.
Tristan visited several schools this offseason, but it was Michigan that stood above the rest. The Dare family made their way to Michigan in June and wasted no time making a decision.
“Tristan wanted to feel the culture of the program,” Trevor said. “He didn’t want to have to change himself. He wanted to find a program that felt right to him. Going to Michigan after leaving from seeing the team down south (Ohio State), we didn’t have any expectations. It was going to be another visit. But Michigan was different. We usually don’t talk about visits until we get home. I want him to process the visit and be a support system for him.
“When we got to the Detroit airport, he started sharing all of his feelings from that visit. From a parent’s perspective, I felt everything he felt. It’s just a culture thing that starts with Coach (Sherrone) Moore, and it permeates throughout the building. You feel it. It’s hard work but not flashy — just like my son.”
Tristan has added 25 pounds this offseason and is now 6-foot-4, 290 going into his junior season. His technique is only getting better, and his potential, in just his second year as a full-time offensive lineman, is through the roof.
Right now, Tristan is still ranked a three-star prospect, but that could easily change this fall.
“The biggest thing I want to prove is that Michigan was right to take a chance on me,” Tristan said. “I want to show that I deserve to be there.”
For a kid who once swore he’d never play football, he’s already proven plenty.
Category: General Sports
