Northwestern gets LB commit

Prince Kwateng, Muncie (Ind.) High's outside linebacker, gained interest with some Midwestern schools with a strong junior season. Unfortunately, Kwateng suffered a stress fracture in his femur after just one game. While he didn’t return this season, he emerged from obscurity to commit to Northwestern earlier this week.

“I’ve committed to Northwestern,” Kwateng said. “I started getting pressure from some schools to commit, so I got it over with. It really came down to Northwestern or Northern Illinois, and Northwestern had more of the majors that I’m interested in. I also like the coaches a lot, I always watched them growing up, and I think they’re a program on the rise. I love the campus, and of course they have world-renowned academics. It’s close to home, and that will let my family come watch me play.”

Now that his high school career and recruiting are over, Kwateng is ready to reflect on his brief senior season.

“We lost in the first round of the playoffs,” he said. “But I got hurt in the second week, and I never made it back. I fractured my femur from over-conditioning, and I just never made it back. It was really frustrating because I started practicing at the end of the season, and I would get ready to play but the doctors would tell me right before the game that I couldn’t play. They were afraid that any hit could cause more permanent damage, and it was frustrating. I have really strong desire and work ethic to be the best I can be. Even though I may not be the fastest, I know that I just have to work harder. So, the injury was hard.”

One of a handful of prospects and players from Ghanian descent, Kwateng said that his role as a first-generation American is no different than that of anyone else. Still, he holds a great deal of Ghanian pride.

“My parents are from Ghana, and I am a first generation American,” he said. “But so are some other prospects. Nyan Boateng [4-star New York wide receiver] has Ghanian parents; at least my mom said he does. And so does the Georgia Tech running back [P.J. Daniels]. His first name is Prince, too.”