Mt. Pleasant’s Obie Ricumstrict
One of the best all-around athletes in Michigan for the class of 2017 is Mt. Pleasant’s Obie Ricumstrict. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect was in East Lansing this past weekend checking out Michigan State’s win over Penn State.
Ricumstrict is one of the in-state players MSU is taking a serious look at for the class of 2017. This past season, he starred on both sides of the ball for Mt. Pleasant and recently received All-State honors for his efforts.
If the name Ricumstrict rings a bell to college football fans, it should. Obie is the son of current Central Michigan defensive line coach George Ricumstrict. Before working for the Chippewas, where he was a 4-year letterman and All-MAC performer, Ricumstrict was at Indiana from 2005-2010 as the Hoosiers’ linebacker and defensive ends coach.
Obie Ricumstrict has been to MSU several times, but this time was a bit different since he was there as a recruit.
“I enjoyed my visit very much,” Ricumstrict said. “I’ve been able to see the campus a lot the past year from being recruited and offered by baseball. This was really the first time I have been down here for football. It was great meeting the coaches and learning more about the football program.”
Ricumstrict is one of the top baseball prospects in the Midwest and that could definitely have an impact on where he attends schools. We asked him about being a two-sport standout.
“If I had the opportunity to play both I would love to for sure. A few schools said I would have the option to do both. I’ve been offered by Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Michigan State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Liberty, Central Michigan and other MAC schools for baseball. For football I’m being recruited by Notre Dame, Iowa, Purdue and Kansas as well as Michigan State. Right now, I have offers in the MAC,” he said.
Whether he selects baseball or football in college, Ricumstrict has a good idea of what will ultimately determine where he attends school.
“Finding the right fit academically, socially, and a good athletic program,” he said.
You do not see a lot of baseball/football combinations these days because spring practice overlaps with baseball season. With that said, it is not something that cannot be done. Two of the most decorated athletes ever to wear an MSU uniform played both football and baseball, Kirk Gibson and Steve Garvey. Whether he ends up paying baseball, football or both, he will certainly be one of the more sought after athletes in Michigan.
Elite recruits back in East Lansing
On Wednesday, Detroit King High School players Donnie Corley and Lavert Hill were on campus to watch MSU prepare for the Big Ten title game and watch the basketball team take on Louisville.
Corley is the top uncommitted wide receiver in the Midwest for the class of 2016 and is fresh of his championship-winning catch against Lowell in the Division 2 title game. The Rivals top 100 recruit has been a priority for MSU for two years. The Spartans see him as a player who can come in and contribute early due to the graduation of seniors wide receivers Aaron Burbridge and McGarrett Kings.
Hill made news this past weekend when he indicated that he was decommitting from Penn State. Hill is a four-star recruit and the No. 5 prospect in Michigan for the class of 2016. Hill is considering teams such as U-M, MSU, Ohio State and Tennessee are seen a contender. Hill’s brother Delano current plays for U-M.
Matt Dorsey is a recruiting analyst for SpartanMag.com and Rivals.com.