New BCS interest for Forward

Flint (Mich.) Northern linebacker Marcus Forward came into his senior year with offers from Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan, but since the contact period began on Sept. 1 he has also been hearing from a couple BCS programs.

"Coach [Steve] Stripling from Cincinnati called our coach then called me last week, inviting me to a game," Forward said. "He said he talked to [Flint Northern] Coach [Fred] Jackson and Coach Jackson referred me, saying I was a pretty good athlete who was somebody they needed to check out. Coach Stripling told me I was going to be on the radar and he's going to be calling once a week. I told him I would be excited to come down to another home game.

"Illinois coach [Keith] Gilmore called one of my teammates, Jada Littlejohn, and he invited both of us to a game. I still get mail from Illinois. My coach did call Coach Campbell from Iowa and talked to him for awhile about me and Jada Littlejohn, but they haven't reached out to me yet."

Forward has received the new interest with excitement, and plans to start scheduling trips to visit the schools recruiting him the hardest

"Everybody who calls out to invite me to a game, I am looking forward to going to one," Forward said. "Illinois and Cincinnati have already reached out and invited me, so I'm looking to go to both of those team's home games. I will most definitely go to a Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan home game, but I don't have any on the schedule yet."

Calls from Western Michigan coach Dave Cohen and Eastern Michigan assistant Doug Downing were also received by Forward this month.

Forward had already planned to go through his senior season and see what new interest came about. Now that his plan is taking shape, he looks forward to what the next few months hold.

"I got those first two offers early, but things kind of slowed down a little bit," Forward said. "I was going to wait until after the season to make a decision, so it is nice to see things pick back up after these first couple games."

Flint Northern is out to a 1-1 start to their 2011 season. Forward has recorded 24 tackles and three forced fumbles in those two games, and also has six catches for 110 yards on offense.