New offers have Nordins attention

The Midwest appears to be the epicenter of kicking talent in the 2016 class, and with nine offers Rockford (Mich.) placekicker Quinn Nordin is the headliner.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Nordin added his two most recent offers from Arizona State and Michigan. He learned of his offer from the in-state program during a spring game visit on Saturday.

"It was completely out of the blue," Nordin said. "Coach (John) Baxter, the special teams coach at Michigan, does a wonderful job. He's one of the best special teams coaches in the country. We talked to him all day and it sounded like they weren't going to offer me. He told me where they were at with Andrew David, the kicker they have coming in from 2015.

"After the spring game we met with Coach (Jim) Harbaugh and he offered me a scholarship, so I was in shock."

Being an in-state prospect, Nordin said he lives in a house divided between Michigan and Michigan State fans. The offer from Michigan, though, is one he is strongly considering, and has them among his top schools.

"I have some great offers right now," Nordin said. "Penn State and Iowa are, in my opinion, two of the most valuable offers you can have. Then, Michigan and Arizona State come in and I'm thankful.

"My No. 1 school is probably tied with Penn State and Michigan. Then, my twos are tied with Arizona State and Iowa, and Arizona State is a close two."

Nordin is currently considering a visit to Arizona State for later this spring, and his father had a discussion with the Sun Devil's staff about that possibility on Monday.

Although the majority of his football offers have come within the last couple months, Nordin is a seasoned veteran of the college recruiting process.

"For me it started in ninth grade. I got my first Division I offer for lacrosse when I was 13 years old," Nordin said. "I have 12 Division I lacrosse offers now, Michigan included so now I have one from Michigan in football and lacrosse. It's been a blessing. Lacrosse brought me in and made me understand recruiting."

Nordin did not have his junior season stats on-hand, but as a sophomore he connected on 14-of-19 field goals with a long of 39 yards and also average 37.7 yards per punt. He credits much of his recruiting popularity, though, to his work with kicking coach Brandon Kornblue.

"In my opinion Coach Kornblue is the best kicking coach in the country," Nordin said. "Coach Kornblue has really helped me with everything and I have all the accolades and offers I'm getting thanks to him."

Nordin was working with Kornblue recently in Florida and hit a 65-yard field goal and had an 89-yard kickoff go through the uprights at a kicking challenge. That kind of leg power is highly coveted at the college ranks, as evidenced by Nordin's offer list.