DeBerry talks UM and MSU visits

Last weekend, 2015 linebacker Ricky DeBerry went to check out Michigan and Michigan State. DeBerry, from Richmond (Va.) St. Christopher's, has one of the largest offer sheets in the country for any sophomore and he is making sure he does his research on each school.

"We left early in the morning on Friday and got to Michigan around three o'clock and we toured around there that day," said the 6-foot-2, 237-pound DeBerry. "On Saturday morning we sat down with Brady Hoke and Coach Manning. Then we left to go to Michigan State around 11 o'clock to get to their spring game. We stayed there for a while to eat dinner and talk to Coach Dantonio and some of the other coaches.

"At Michigan I got to tour the campus and see the facilities," he said. "I talked to the linebackers coach and he also played there. We talked for a long time. I met the academic staff. They really care about the players at Michigan and they really want the player's to be men outside of football and be able to take care of their families. My parents really enjoyed them. I also sat down with Brady Hoke and got to see the other side of him. A lot of coaches will only let you see their coaching side so that was nice. He talked with him for a while and got to know him a little better. It was a great visit. They didn't offer yet though.

"At Michigan State we got a tour of the facilities, saw all their trophies, went into the locker room and went of the field before the spring game," DeBerry said. "I talked to William Gholston, their linebacker that's going into the draft, for a long time. I met the defensive line coach, Ron Burton, who is from Highland Springs here in Richmond so we have that connection. I got to meet almost all the coaches and they were all really down to earth, really nice and I enjoyed myself. I was on the field with my parents and joking with the defensive coordinator. When he left Coach Dantonio come over and started talking to me. He asked how many offers I had. I told him I had 21 and he said 'We're going to make it 22. That's your favorite number right?' That is the number I wear in high school and it is my favorite number so that was cool."

USF provided a little excitement for DeBerry while on the way back to Virginia.

"In the car ride back I was calling a bunch of schools to keep up with everyone and South Florida told me I had a scholarship from them as well," he said. "I've been keeping up with them for the last few weeks. They're a new, up-and-coming program. South Florida is such a new school and has already had a lot of players go into the NFL. The coach that offered me is from Benedictine here in Richmond. He was telling me he is trying to form a connection between Richmond and South Florida."

DeBerry has offers from more that 20 schools but he is already developing some strong relationships.

"Right now, I have a really good relationship with coaches at Boston College, Mississippi State and a lot of other schools," said DeBerry. "I try to call schools every other week because I know they are busy with the 2014 class."

DeBerry has already started thinking about where he will be visiting next.

"Right now I'm just lifting, doing speed training and getting ready for summer practice," he said. "We will be visiting Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor at the same time some in June but I also want to see some other schools."

DeBerry performed very well at the Rivals Camp Series Presented by Under Armour in Richmond.