One of the first scholarship offers - if not the very first - we saw Stanford
extend for this 2007 recruiting class went to linebacker Chris Colasanti.
The Bloomfield Hills (Mich.) Brother Rice High School junior was a First Team
All-State performer this past fall, recording 153 tackles, four sacks and an
interception. Cardinal recruiting for an elite prospect in the heart of
Big 10 country can be tough sledding, and there is competition a-plenty with
offers already from Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Iowa.
Suitors out west who have offered include UCLA, Arizona State and Hawaii.
But Colasanti made a show of his interest in Stanford by taking an unofficial
visit of his own accord to The Farm in February. The Cardinal can take
heart in that 1,800 mile trip, but they were not the recruit's only destination
during his winter travels. Colasanti also took unofficial trips to see
Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Ohio State. He also visited Penn State when he attended their football camp after his 10th grade year.
"The ones I visited, I really liked a lot," the recruit comments. "Not
just football, but also the academic side."
That is good news for those schools because Colasanti will be narrowing his
recruiting horizon sooner than later.
"My coach wants me to focus on my senior season, so I'm trying to push
[recruiting] to the back of my mind right now," he says. "My coach is
pushing for me to decide by mid-summer. That's why I have taken so many
visits. I don't know how to tell who are my top five without taking these
visits. I'll probably narrow to a top five at the beginning of the summer,
then a top three, and then make my decision."
"I'm going to make a big poster board, list the schools, put down all the
pros and cons for each one and narrow it down that way," Colasanti adds.
"Ultimately it will come down to a gut decision."
One of the important dimensions that will be penned on that poster board is
playing time. Even a high-end talent like Colasanti has a keen eye toward
the linebacker depth chart at each of his favorite schools, and how those will
effect his early opportunity to get on the field.
"My goal is to play early," he explains. "My dad and I are always on
the Internet - how many linebackers a school takes each year and how many are in
front of me. I work hard and believe in myself, but don't want to wait
four years for my chance."
"Stanford was the only school where I got a real good look. Junior Days
at other places - you don't see everything," Colasanti says. "It was cool.
I went to a morning practice; it was great. I stood there with Coach [Walt] Harris, and he pointed out the guys and told me who was coming back and
everything. He said I have a chance to make an impact, and that's what I
want to do."
"Coach [Darrell] Patterson and I sat down, and I talked with him about their
scheme," the linebacker recruit recounts. "He said that most likely I
would play inside linebacker. But on tape, he said I was rare. I'm
real good in space and would also have an opportunity at 'Sam' linebacker."
Colasanti says that the playing time outlook on The Farm is a "good
situation" and "very attractive," but that is not the whole story.
"I've always liked Stanford. That's why I flew out there early," he
begins. "Academically I want to study biology and become an orthopedic
surgeon, and Stanford is great for that. The only downside is the whole
distance factor."
"My dad has never missed a game, and I'm really close to my family,"
Colasanti continues. "I want to go a place that is the best situation for
me. The funny thing, though, is that to drive to Penn State takes six
hours. You fly to California in five hours."
Chris Colasanti carries a 3.6 GPA at Brother Rice High School and is
scheduled to take the ACT for the first time this Saturday. ("I'll
probably take it twice.") We will check back with the Michigan man later
in the spring, as he collects his score on the standardized test and works his
way closer toward a final five schools on that sheet of poster board. Stay
tuned.
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