Size does matter

After three kids and years of going through the football recruiting process, Mike Lipsey was hoping he’d have it all figured out by now. But just like many parents, the recruiting process seems to leave him with more questions than answers.

But the most puzzling question is how his two older sons, who were amazingly talented, ended up at smaller schools and his youngest son – four-star offensive center Jordy Lipsey – is the toast of the town.

“It’s interesting how this has all happened,” Mike Lipsey, Jordy’s father said. “It’s interesting how we’ve had to do nothing but sell our other sons to get anybody to take a look at them because they didn’t fit certain physical requirements. But with Jordy, the coaches are doing everything they can to roll out the red carpet.

“It’s like if you’re not a certain physical requirement you have almost no chance at playing bigger football. And for some reason our youngest is the biggest in the family.”

So size does count. And that's something Mike Lipsey has gotten to understand now that he's been through the process quite a few times.

But Lipsey said there is some family competition to see who the best is.

What there is no question about is that Lipsey is one of the nation’s best offensive linemen and one of only two centers ranked at four stars.

And with a 6-foot-4, 267-pound frame that appeals to college coaches, the offers have come from all over the spectrum.

“He has about 25 or so offers,” Mike Lipsey said. “But he’s got a good top six that have all offered – Virginia, Tennessee, Miami, Florida, Northwestern and Stanford.”

With an 1130 score on the SAT, Lipsey and family will be looking at a combination of strong academics and football when it comes time to make a decision.

“He’d like to have a decision made my early to mid-fall,” his father said. “He’s been on unofficial visits to all but Tennessee, and we’re trying to get up to Tennessee some time before the summer is out.

“I think we’re going to take some visits during the season and get to meet the players because that’s going to be something Jordy looks at.”