Mark Dantonio Goes North of the Boarder for Another Great Athlete and Person!

 Michigan State’s recruiting class took a big leap forward the last couple days. The Spartans received a commitment from our neighbor to the north.Â

 

Mark Dantonio is all smiles as he has got 11 commitments for 2011. Photo courtesy of Starr Portice

Michigan State’s recruiting class took a big leap forward the last couple days. The Spartans received a commitment from our neighbor to the north. Michigan State has a history of success in Ontario and keeping with that tradition, adds another prospect from Canada.

 

Arjen Colquhoun (6’2”, 185#, 4.4 forty) from Windsor, Ontario picked up an offer after attending MSU’s camp a couple weeks ago. He is currently projected as an athlete who could play either side of the ball.  He is a physical defender who has the size and flexibility to become a big cornerback.

 

When you watch Arjen, one thing that jumped out at me right away was his acceleration. Colquhoun is fast. You’ll see that when he has the ball in his hands, he is able to punish defenders that take a shallow angle. His stride is long and he just gobbles up yard lines every time he puts his feet down. He is skilled with the ball in his hands.

 

When you look at Arjen’s film, immediately you’ll notice that he is doing almost everything on the field. He throws a nice left-handed bomb on the half back option. He is a good return man that turns up field quickly. He makes cuts like a long lean running back. He is just an all around athlete that helps his team win. He could play a number of positions, but will likely get a shot to return punts and kicks at MSU in addition to DB or WR.

 

Spartan Nation spoke with Arjen about the recruitment process and how it is different for Canadian kids. “It is tougher, you don’t get invited to any of these camps because coaches aren’t looking at you. You have to find out about these camps from other coaches or look for them on the internet.”

 

Arjen’s primary recruiter is defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. Coach Narduzzi made quite an impression on Arjen. “He is hilarious, he makes me laugh all the time. He is a very outgoing guy.” 

 

Like many of the commitments MSU receives, family is sighted as one of their main considerations. Arjen spoke at length about wanting his parents and younger brother to be a part of his MSU experience. Windsor is less than two hours from East Lansing. It is clear that MSU’s proximity to Arjen’s home was a big part of his decision. 

 

I am really excited about Arjen. I really like the way these Canadian kids represent themselves when they get an opportunity in the US. We have had a number of good players from Canada over the years and they really seem to relish the opportunity to compete. Congratulations Arjen, we are glad you are part of the Spartan Nation.

 

Here is the link to the interview he did with Spartan Nation Radio:Â CLICK HERE TO LISTEN!