Football recruits watch CMU's spring game, look forward to their future
On a sunny 72 degree day at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, about 75 recruits watched the Central Michigan football team, according to Offensive Line Coach Derek Frazier, as the maroon and gold teams squared off for the annual spring game on Saturday in front of 3,053 fans.
High school football talents from around the Midwest came to watch Head Coach John Bonamego and the CMU football team as the gold squad defeated the maroon squad 21-7.
The teams were led by a pair of quarterbacks that were in the same position as many of the recruits today, who weren't yet on the team.
Hunter Harris, a 2017 recruit from Detroit Loyola High School, said he has talked with Bonamego before, but hasn't committed to CMU. Other schools he is looking into include Bowling Green, Toledo and "some other (Mid-American Conference) schools."
Big Ten schools Michigan State and Iowa have also shown interest in Harris.
"I came up here a few times before, but I like the spring game atmosphere," Harris said. "I like how the crowd interacts and I'm really enjoying the game."
Harris also said CMU 2016 wide receiver commit Bailey Edwards is a close friend.
Hoffman Estates, Illinois 2016 defensive tackle Dante Cleveland — who is already committed and signed with the Chippewas — said the experience at the game was "absolutely awesome."
"I loved the environment and everything about (the spring game)," Cleveland said. "That's why I came. The family environment and being connected to all the players (drew me to CMU)."
As a freshman who will be on the team in the fall, Cleveland said he hopes to learn from the older players on the team he saw play Saturday.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive lineman said he looked up to Julius Peppers growing up and tries to base his style of play off Peppers'.
Damian Ewald, a sophomore quarterback from Hazel Park High School, enjoyed the game and said "the campus is pretty nice." Saturday was Ewald's second time visiting CMU. Ewald is a "dual-threat" quarterback and said he can use his legs when he needs to.
For more Spring Game coverage, check out Post Game Central on CM-Life.com
