Yesterday, Kevin brought you a story of how the mothers of high-profile recruits can impact where their sons play their college football.
Today, less than 24 hours from the start of National Signing Day, it’s a father, in concert with his better half, who’s attempting to influence where his son signs.
Malik McDowell is a five-star defensive end from Southfield, Mich., rated as the No. 2 strongside end in the country by Rivals.com and the No. 1 player in the state of Michigan at any position. The player would like to stay in-state and play for Michigan State. The father? Not so much.
“I want him out of Michigan. ... We’re basically at the same point, his mother and I, as long as he gets away from Michigan we don’t care where he goes,” Greg McDowell told 247Sports.com. “From when we talked Friday he’s coming around because he knows how adamant we are about him not attending Michigan State.
“I don’t have anything bad to say against Michigan State but I don’t think they’re the school for my son. I think the coaches are cool and they’re establishing a good program, but this is my son and I choose to not want him there. If he were to choose Michigan State I don’t know what I would do. It is what it is. I just want my son away from this environment and Michigan. I want him out of here.”
The elder McDowell would prefer his son sign with either Ohio State or Florida State. McDowell took an official visit to Columbus this past weekend, two weeks after doing the same in Tallahassee.
Because of geography, though, the Buckeyes could have a leg up on the Seminoles -- if Malik McDowell doesn’t follow his heart and head to East Lansing against his parents’ wishes, that is.
"(He is thinking about) what it’s all going to turn out to be as far as family also,” the father told the Detroit News. “I feel like he is thinking about my mom, his grandmother — a lot. His mom’s parents are both deceased, so he only has my mom and my father, and my father is disabled. He wants to keep it close to home as far as my mom being able to come see him. Not just on TV. That’s something where he is very thoughtful in that way about her.”
McDowell, who’s also considering the University of Michigan, is expected to announce his decision at 9:30 a.m. ET Wednesday morning, with his father stating that “hopefully he’ll make the right choice for himself and the family as well.”
No pressure, kid. No pressure at all.
(Tip O’ the Cap: Land-Grant Holy Land)
(Photo credit: Rivals.com)