Raw Michigan DE is getting looks

Allen Park, Mich. defensive end Jay Gillespie has only played football since his freshman year, but is already beginning to dominate. The 6-foot-4, 255-pounder is an imposing force on the defensive side of the ball. What really makes him stand out as a player?

"He is a very strong and quick end that is still a little bit raw and needs some more experience," Allen Park head coach Tom Hoover said. "Probably his best attribute on the field is that he is powerful and that results in a lot of players having a hard time blocking him. He tends to overwhelm people with his aggression.

"Even though he's solid, he still needs to hit the weights. He is mostly dominating off of pure athleticism, but some training could really get him to where he needs to be. I could see him gaining another inch and bulking up to 275 or 280-pounds."

The defensive end prospect isn't just a solid player, but he's a good person too.

"Jay is a great kid that never gets into trouble and has great grades. He actually has a 3.6 GPA," he said. "He is also very coachable and listens to whatever the coaches have to say."

Currently a variety of schools are showing an interest in Gillespie.

"He is getting mail from Michigan, Michigan State, Colorado, Ohio State, Minnesota along with just about every school in the MAC," he explained. "At the moment, I project him to be a MAC prospect because I don't think he's ready to play for the bigger schools."