Spartans Look to Ohio For A LB, Whose Family’s Legacy at MSU is Legendary: Jewone Snow

Last year at this time, Jewone Snow wasn't feeling the love. The start of the recruiting process seemed so promising after the Canton, Ohio, native got a

Last year at this time, Jewone Snow wasn't feeling the love. The start of the recruiting process seemed so promising after the Canton, Ohio, native got a questionnaire in the mail from the Florida Gators. But after missing much of his sophomore season to injury, the recruiting process seemed stuck in chilled molasses.

Soon, though, as he continued to grow into his now 6-foot-2 ("and a half," he says), 230 pound body, word started to spread, and a deluge of recruiting attention began.

Michigan State stepped up to the plate with his first scholarship offer, and Snow, who is primarily recruited by defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and linebackers coach Mike Tressel, has been impressed from the start. Narduzzi was the first coach to visit Snow and Jewone says the Spartans promised to recruit him hard.

The McKinley High School student-athlete came to Michigan State last year to watch the Notre Dame game and saw the MSU campus first hand. After that Spartan victory over the Irish, Snow says Dantonio made the offer, and ever since then, recruiting "just took off," Snow says.

"I think it's a great atmosphere, I think it's a great school," he continues about MSU. "The football program is coming back to where it used to be. I think they are going to do big things in the future."

With his large frame, there has been some internet speculation that Snow might transform into a defensive end at the next level. Not according to the teams that are recruiting him, he says, all of which are looking at him as a linebacker. In addition to Michigan State, nearly the entire Big Ten and almost every Midwestern program is courting Snow, from Penn State to Michigan to Iowa. He's also receiving interest from some Big East teams such as West Virginia, Syracuse and Cincinnati; some SEC flavor with Tennessee, Florida and South Carolina; and a touch of ACC love with North Carolina and Maryland — in short, dozens of BCS schools from all over the nation are vying for Snow's services.

While Snow's father, Garland Rivers, ran the football for the University of Michigan, two of his uncles, brothers Percy and Eric Snow, were highly regarded players for the Green & White in football and basketball respectively.

Menacing the middle of the gridiron, Percy won the Dick Butkus Award as college football's best linebacker in 1989. And Eric followed a successful college campaign for Jud Heathcote as a guard in the Breslin Center to an even better NBA career in Seattle, Philadelphia and Cleveland. Jewone says his family offers sage counsel when discussing his future plans, and all emphasize the importance of comfort and education when contemplating a decision.

Jewone says he'll likely be back in East Lansing next fall, possibly for an official visit, but recruiting will take a back seat when this final high school season revs up. The plainspoken Snow has a simple answer to what his goals are for the team in his final prep campaign: "Go undefeated, win the state title," he says.