The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/299859
PREP PROFILES There are higher-rated offensive tackles in the 2015 class than Grant Newsome of Lawrenceville, N.J., but not many that are being more actively recruited. The 6-7, 280-pounder isn't yet a member of the junior Rivals250, but that could c h a n g e i f h i s offer list keeps expanding — and it's showing no signs of slowing. A l a b a m a , U - M a n d L S U are a few of the p ro g r a m s t h a t h a v e e x t e n d e d s c h o l a r s h i p offers, and the number grows weekly. Penn State, though, appears to be in as good a position as anyone in mid- April. He recently visited Happy Valley a second time. "I think the theme was very similar to what they've been telling me throughout, which is that they want to return Penn State back to where it's been in the past, to its former dominance," Newsome said. "They want to win Big Ten championships and then turn that into national championships. "They know they have what they need to do it — they just need the players to believe in that, and they believe I'm a good fit for their plan. They want me to be a part of that." He might return to State College in June for a third time. Before he does, though, he plans to visit Michigan and a few others. Another of his favorites — Northwestern — epitomizes what he's looking for in a school, and he'll see if U-M is of the same mold. "What stands out to me about Northwestern is the balance they have," he said a f t e r v i s i t i n g i n M a rc h . " A t N o r t h w e s t e r n , the players are v e r y g e n u i n e in their interest i n a c a d e m i c s . They're more than football players — they're really students." Newsome plans to spend a week down south this summer with hopes of visiting schools such as LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas and South Carolina. Most coaches tell him the same thing about his potential. "They say they like my athleticism and my ability to get to the second level," he said. "They also like my ability to deal with 'Wide-9' defensive ends." H e h a s a l s o v i s i t e d D u k e , Maryland, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Rutgers and Virginia, but Northwestern is the only school that has drawn him off of the East Coast. That was set to change with his April trip to Ann Arbor. — Chris Balas New Jersey Offensive Tackle Preparing For U-M Visit ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Lawrenceville Prep Lawrenceville, N.J. Class: 2015 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-7 • Wt.: 280 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 8 player in New Jersey and No. 30 offensive tackle nationally Grant Newsome