Rochester Adams tight end Matt Sokol visited Michigan State on Friday and left with something he was not expecting — a scholarship offer.
“I wasn’t expecting it — not at all,” Sokol told me. “I was absolutely blown away. It was a day I’ll never forget. I just expected a chance to get to meet Coach (Mark) Dantonio and get to know him better as well as meeting more of the staff.”
“My first reaction was, ‘Is this real life?’ … It was humbling and to be given that opportunity was just surreal. It just opens so many possibilities to the pursue in the future. I have so much respect for the coaches and the program at MSU.”
Sokol, who plays quarterback for Adams, played tight end on varsity his sophomore year and plays the position with Michigan Elite, as well.
“I have talked to my coach (at Adams about playing tight end),” Sokol said. “I’m not sure if I will play there, but maybe there will be a couple sets for me or something.
“I just want to have a successful season with my friends and teammates. Hopefully, I have a decision made by then, so I can do whatever we need to win.”
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound prospect already has a friend at Michigan State in recent transfer Matt Rea, a graduate of Adams.
“He was a senior when I was in eighth grade and everyone looked up to him a lot,” Sokol said. “It’s really cool that I’ve been able to stay in touch and workout with him when he is back in town. It also is nice that I already know someone who is in the program at MSU.”
In addition to MSU, he holds offers from Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan and Bowling Green.
Sokol also is hearing from most of the Big Ten, including Michigan, Penn State, and Purdue, as well as many MAC schools.
Sokol plans on camping at MSU in June, as well as the Sound Mind and Sound Body camp in Southfield. He said a decision will come before his senior season, and possibly in the upcoming weeks.
– With one defensive tackle in the fold with Enoch Smith Jr., the Spartans would like to add another to the class and the latest offer went out to Millville (N.J.) DT Antoine White.
“MSU is a big offer. I didn’t expect it,” White told me, “I thought they would visit and maybe over late in the process. I was pretty amazed a school from 10 hours away would offer. At the end of the day, MSU plays big games and they are big-time team so I was humbled and excited by it.”
White was visited by MSU defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi on Wednesday, who White said was “really genuine and didn’t feel like a salesman at all.”
“He told me MSU’s situation and how many defensive tackles they plan on taking,” White said. “He also said they watched my film and were offering because they liked my first step and that I am a quick twitch guy. The big thing to him was seeing me in person and sizing me up.”
White said there are a couple things about MSU that appeal to him.
“I know they are big on sending guys out (to the NFL), so it definitely is a school I have to get out to, as well as Michigan,” White said. “I also know they have a good criminal justice program, and that definitely bumps them up. That is the first thing I check about a school when they offer.”
White said he still needs to see more about MSU, but that they are high on his list. He is planning a visit this summer to East Lansing.
He also said he is going to wait to make his decision and see what other offers come in, but plans to make a decision before his senior season.
He has been visited by a handful of ACC schools and Big Ten schools, including Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland, Virginia, UConn and North Carolina. He currently holds nine offers.
– As the Spartans efforts in New Jersey continue, Franklin defensive end Jameer Outsey has emerged on the Spartans’ radar.
“Coach Narduzzi came in (Wednesday) and we sat down and he invited me to camp,” Outsey told me. “He said they like me at defensive end and that I remind of him of (current MSU DE) Shilique Calhoun.
“He talked to me about the history at MSU and the program and a brief history of Michigan State.”
Outsey, who described himself as a defensive end who is always after the ball and aggressive, already had some knowledge of MSU before talking with Narduzzi.
“I know they played a 4-3 defense and I watch them on ESPN all the time. They are really, really good. The defense is just relentless and they all fly to the ball on every play. I love their defense.”
Outsey said he just wants to play on defense in college, but if he had to pick he would prefer outside linebacker. He also is looking to major in either criminal justice or forensics.
He also was visited by Virginia, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Tennessee. He plans on camping at MSU on June 16.
