Michigan State has offered Sunbury (Ohio) Big Walnut quarterback Eli Stumpf a scholarship.
The Spartans are his first Big Ten offer. Traditionally, when the Spartans have found a sleeper in Ohio, the success rate is high. At quarterback, Stumpf’s 6-foot-5 frame and current lack of high-major offers are reminiscent of Connor Cook, who was lightly recruited out of the Akron area before becoming an All-Big Ten performer and NFL Draft pick at Michigan State.
Stumpf has the size. He is athletic, as he is a good basketball player — his father is the head basketball coach at Big Walnut. As a junior, he led his team to a 12-2 record and the state semifinals. During that season, he completed 69% of his passes with 2,436 yards of total offense and 31 touchdowns to only two interceptions.
As a sophomore, he completed 70% of his passes with 2,120 yards and 22 touchdowns.
“There are parts of him that are raw, but he has really good tools,” says Brad Maendler of QB Excelerate, where Stumpf has trained. “He’s athletic, has twitch, and a big arm. He’s still putting all of it together, but he did some really good things during the season.”
Most of all, Maendler is impressed with Stumpf’s intangibles.
“I’ve been doing this 29 years and there are kids who want to get it where they can’t ever get it wrong,” he said. “Eli has this intensity about wanting to get better. There is a difference between being a thrower and being a passer, and he’s on a track of being a passer.”
Michigan State offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and quarterbacks coach John McNulty extended the offer.
Stumpf says he will get through basketball season then begin setting up visits. The Spartans are expected to receive a visit. Offensive line coach Nick Tabacca and previous quarterbacks coach Mike Bajakian had visited Big Walnut in the winter. Stumpf visited MSU last spring as well.
Toledo, Kent State, and Cornell also have offered.
New official visits set
Farmington edge Myles Smith will take an official visit to Michigan State on May 29. Smith is a priority for the Spartans, as he is one of the more heavily sought-after juniors in the state.
The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Smith also has an official set with Kentucky. Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Cal are among the other schools he hopes to visit.
Bridge City (Texas) linebacker Bryce Breeden also has set an official with Michigan State. He will be on campus June 19-21. Breeden has noted his father living in Michigan is a positive factor for the Spartans as well as Michigan, who also has offered him a scholarship.
Allen Trieu covers Midwest football recruiting for 247Sports. He has been featured on the Big Ten Network on its annual Signing Day Show. His Michigan and Michigan State recruiting columns appear weekly at detroitnews.com.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Trieu: QB with Michigan State offer has ‘big arm,’ better intangibles
Reporting by Allen Trieu, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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