Young defensive tackles lead East Lansing event

VIDEO: Arnett talks top schools

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Rivals.com Five-Star Academy hit East Lansing and Michigan State University on Saturday. The event, which took place in the brand new Skadalaris Football Comples, offered an early look at a pair of Catholic school prospects in Michigan that figure to make noise in the class of 2012.

Matthew Godin from Detroit Catholic Central and Danny O'Brien from Flint Powers Catholic were two of the best looking prospects at the event. Godin is 6-feet-5 and 255 pound defensive tackle. O'Brien is a stout 6-feet-2 and 265 pound interior defensive lineman. .

Both prospects said recruiting is already getting started.

"Michigan State invited me to their spring game and practices," Godin said. "Northwestern also invited me to their camp."

"I have been getting letters from Ohio State and Cincinnati to come to their one day camp," O'Brien said. "I sent out my highlight rape and got some stuff back from Nebraska, Virginia, and Illinois."

Both players pointed out their dream schools.

"Michigan for sure," Godin said. "Also Michigan State and Iowa."

"Ohio State and Iowa are my two dream schools," O'Brien said. "I like their programs, fan bases, coaches, and the fact that both are stable programs. And they get their lineman out there."

Glenbard West (Ill.) 2012 product Tommy Schutt also attended. The 6-feet-3, 302 pound prospect reports an early offer from Illinois. He lists Michigan State, Northwesters, Iowa, Purdue and Duke as other schools that are actively recruiting him. He plans to camp this summer at Ohio State and Iowa.

"He has been starting at defensive tackle for one of the top programs in the state since his sophomore year," Rivals.com Illinois recruiting expert Tim O'Halloran said. "He will be very highly sought after, and maybe the top prospect in Illinois for the class of 2012.

Toledo (Ohio) Rogers lineman Felix Fowler was the biggest prospect in attendance. At 6-feet-6 and 360 pounds, Fowler is an intimidating physical presence. He plans to attend summer camps at Ohio State, UCLA, and Purdue.

"I am more of an aware and physical player," Fowler said. "As for a favorite school, places like Ohio State and other schools close to home."

Southfield (Mich.) Brother Rice inside linebacker Tim Hamilton made the trip up to East Lansing as well. The 6-feet-1 and 247 pound prospect holds and offer from Central Michigan.

"Wisconsin and Duke just started talking to me a few days ago," Hamilton said. "My dream school in Michigan State, and Michigan too. I like the facilities at Michigan State. I came here from a junior day a couple of months ago. We went to a basketball game, it was really nice."

Riley Bullough is another class of 2012 prospect that is quite familiar with Michigan State. His brother Max is a Rivals250 member of the class of 2010 and signed with the Spartans in February. Riley said he thinks we would put the "dream school" label on Michigan State.

"I have family connections here," Bullough said. "So, it is fun to come here and see Max."

Riley plans to attend summer camps at Michigan State, Notre Dame, and East Lansing. Riley's dad, Shane, and uncle, Chuck, were both All-Big Ten linebackers for Michigan State. Chuck Bullough is an assistant at UCLA.

Ithaca (Mich.) quarterback Alex Niznak has his first offer on the table, from Central Michigan and new head coach Dan Enos- who coached running backs at Michigan State from 2006-09.

"Coach Enos said they really liked my film," Niznak said. "They really liked what I can do on the field, and they are going to offer me a full scholarship."

Niznak stands at 6-feet-3 and 226 pounds.

"I play in a spread system, but I have done a lot of work to be a pro-style quarterback," Niznak said. "I have a lot of running clips, and coaches say I have good mobility for my size. So, if I can get into a pro-style system, I can add mobility to the offense.

"It has always been a dream to play in the Big Ten. Michigan State would be a great location I feel. Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin are all schools that I have watched an researched extensively."

Other notables

-Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Northrop defensive back C.T. Jones is in great shape. The 5-feet-10, 198 pound safety reports a 435 pound squat max and 295 pound bench press max. Jones plans to attend summer camp at Cincinnati. He said Nebraska, Kansas, Notre Dame, and Syracuse are also in contact.

-Standish Sterling High School's (Mich.) Cole Walderzak was the tallest prospect at the event. The 6-feet-7 TE/DE prospect reports a 4.75 forty and a 28 inch vertical jump. He has the frame to be either a monster defensive end, a big and physical tight end, or maybe even an offensive tackle down the road. Walderzak is also a standout in basketball and track. For football, he is hearing from Iowa and Wisconsin among others. He plans to camp at Michigan State this summer.

-Flint (Mich.) Northern running back Thomas Rawls has a Central Michigan offer. The bruising running back (215 pounds) is also hearing from Wisconsin, Louisville, Cincinnati, Purdue, and Iowa. Rawls broke 1000 yards rushing last year, and the 100 tackle mark on defense.

-Efe Scott-Emuakpor (pronounced ef-A scott uh-mock-poor) was perhaps the event's most intriguing prospect. He is another 2012 prospect who plays football just down the street at East Lansing High School. He is a 6-5, 180 pound wide receiver. His heaviest interest at this time is from Michigan State and Northwestern. He carries a 3.5 GPA, and holds the school record in receptions in a season (64) and receiving yards in a season (774). Scott-Emuakpo was born in the United States, but his parents are natives of Nigeria.