SPORTS

2018 LB recruit Ovie Oghoufo digs Michigan State: 'Love the program'

Matt Dorsey
Special to the Detroit Free Press
Farmington Hills Harrison football coach John Herrington gives directions to his players in 2011.

Under Mark Dantonio, Michigan State has had some of the best linebacking corps in school history. And one of the players the staff is focused on for the class of 2018 is Ovie Oghoufo of Farmington Hills Harrison.

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound prospect will be one of the top recruits in the Midwest next year.

Legendary Harrison coach John Herrington has overseen the development of dozens of elite players, and Oghoufo is the next in line. The big-hitting prospect already has double-digit scholarship offers and is hearing from most of the major programs in the Midwest.

“I have 10 scholarship offers," he said. "The most recent have been Iowa State, Toledo, Ball State and Northern Illinois. I'll be camping at Penn State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Maryland and Connecticut.”

Oghoufo has been to East Lansing on multiple occasions over the past 12 months. I asked him about his contact with the Spartan staff and what he thinks of the Big Ten champs: “I've been hearing from State; they are very interested in me. I don't know if I'll be at their camp, but I will be at Sound Mind Sound Body. I've been in contact with coach (Brad) Salem and (Curtis) Blackwell, mostly. The Spartans are a powerhouse. Love the program and the atmosphere!”

The Spartan staff will attend the Sound Mind Sound Body camp next month in Detroit. Oghoufo also could pop in for a session of Michigan State’s camp in June.

But before he hits the camp rounds, Oghoufo will be finishing up a solid track and field season. He was all-league and all-region in the high jump and also performed well in the 200 meters.

Harrison High closing means losing great coach, program

Matt Dorsey is a recruiting analyst for spartanmag.com and rivals.com.