Love discusses his two offers

Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal Mooney junior linebacker Courtney Love now has a state title and two Big Ten scholarship offers to his credit.

The 6-1, 222-pound Love led the Cardinals to a Division 4 state championship last month. Now he goes into off-season mode, which includes plenty of focus on recruiting.

Nebraska became the first school to offer Love earlier back in the summer. Huskers head coach Bo Pelini, a Cardinal Mooney grad himself, is well known in the area, and to Love.

"People have said quite a bit to me about him because he is from this area of Ohio," Love said. "I've been knowing him since I was a little kid. When he would come to the camps I would always talk to him. He got a chance to check me out and put the offer in. I'm glad to have that offer."

The next step Love plans to take in his recruitment with Nebraska is visiting the school this winter. He does not have a date picked out yet, but will try to work in a junior day or home basketball game to attend.

Love has also had a longstanding relationship with the Michigan State coaching staff, and the Spartans came in with offer No. 2 for the talented junior.

Love first met Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi during his sophomore year. Head coach Mark Dantonio paid a specific visit to Cardinal Mooney during week seven of the high school season, and Love reciprocated with a game day visit to East Lansing.

"I went up for the game against Minnesota," Love said. "As soon as I got there on the field [Dantonio] said they were going to offer me. Right after the game I went into the locker room and he said, 'We're offering you and we want you.' I was excited about that also because I like the way he coaches and the team play they have."

With the offers from Michigan State and Nebraska in hand, Love's focus is on those two Big Ten schools. Other programs are also starting to show increased interest, however.

"I've been talking to Coach [Bill] Bedenbaugh from West Virginia quite a bit," Love said. "I plan to go down there for a junior day as well."

Love also mentioned possible junior day visits to Notre Dame and Michigan State this winter. In the meantime he is already looking forward to his senior season and improving upon a junior campaign in which he recorded 130 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and had one fumble recovery for a touchdown.