Nebraska junior has a favorite
SAN ANTONIO - Lincoln (Neb.) North Star defensive back Michael Minter is a transplant from North Carolina, but college coaches have had no trouble finding the 6-0, 175-pound prospect.
Minter is the son of the former Nebraska Cornhusker and Carolina Panthers defensive back of the same name. That association has helped Minter early in the recruiting process on two fronts.
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"That's helped me a lot because he'll tell me secrets about the DB position that a lot of people don't know," Minter said. "It also helps me with my [college] looks too because of my name."
Minter has received a bevy of college looks, and also picked up four early scholarship offers from Clemson, Kansas, Purdue and South Carolina. His first offer came from Clemson this past summer.
"I went to their camp and I was working with coach Charlie Harbison and he just said he liked how I cover," Minter said. "Coach [Kevin] Steele, he coached my dad when my dad was at Nebraska."
The early offer from the Tigers and the chance to spend time on Clemson's campus has made them the team to beat early in the process.
"That is probably my top school right now," Minter said. "I liked it all - the ACC, the weather, the coaches."
Purdue is Minter's most recent offer, and even though they have just added their name to his list he said they have been recruiting him the hardest.
"I just got off the phone with a Purdue coach not too long ago," Minter said. "He told me he was going to offer me, wanted to get me up there and let me meet the players. I was supposed to [visit] there during the season, but it was kind of hard with Friday night games."
Now that Minter has returned to the town where his father was a college star, local pressure to follow in his father's footsteps exists.
"I like [Nebraska] a lot and have been on a few recruiting visits there," Minter said. "They are recruiting me pretty hard and I like them. That is probably one of my top schools that hasn't offered me."
Minter does not have any junior days planned in the near future, but expects to make a trip to Purdue before too long.
As a junior, Minter recorded five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. He also played running back on offense and averaged nine yards per carry, finishing with 1,200 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. In college he expects to spend his time on defense.
"[Colleges] mostly are recruiting me for corner and safety," Minter said. "I like either one, and whatever one I will be good in college for and gives me a chance to get to the League I'm going to play that position."