Star Football OT Recruit Riley Norman Talks Football, Track and Michigan State

With the seemingly larger-than-life coverage of and attention paid to revenue producing college sports such as football and basketball, it may seem crazy to

With the seemingly larger-than-life coverage of and attention paid to revenue producing college sports such as football and basketball, it may seem crazy to pass up an opportunity to play Division 1 ball.

Not to Riley Norman.

The 6-foot-7. 320-pound senior from Cadillac, Michigan is considered one of the top high school offensive tackles in the country, but he will not be playing football in college. He recently joined Hondo S Carpenter, Sr. on Spartan Nation Radio to talk about it.

He has chosen to follow his heart by suiting up in a Michigan State track and field uniform to compete in throwing events.

           The multi sport athlete won the Division 2 shot put title as a junior last year with a throw of 61 feet, 2 1/2 inches.

           He cites the camaraderie unique to track as a major factor in his decision, as well as the fact that track is just more enjoyable for him.

           “It’s a fun sport, and I love the social-ness,” he says. “You get to meet great new people every time you participate in a meet. (There are) always new faces, and it’s never dirty or mean competitiveness. It’s always trying to improve one another, trying to help out and trade tips and tricks.”

           The difference in risks of injury between the two sports was also a factor.

“(Track is) definitely a lot easier on the body,” he says. “You’re not going to destroy your joints or mess up your knees as easily doing track.”

           He says that while the football recruitment process was fun in some ways, it was also extremely stressful – “a lot of questions from a million different people” – and he is happy that his decision has been made.

           As are the Spartan track and field coaches.

“They were ecstatic about it,” he says. “I don’t think they realized how well recruited I was for football until after I committed. I don’t think they understood the level of recruitment I was getting even while they were recruiting me. They knew I was being recruited but not the nationwide recruiting that it was.”

           Norman looks forward to getting to East Lansing for both athletic and academic reasons. He plans to go into something medical-related.

           “I might do pre-nursing, but I’m not sure yet,” he says. That’s what I am declared as now, but I will probably change it at some point.”

           As for football, there is one remaining question in the minds of people who follow recruiting: is football now off the radar?

           At this point, Norman does not even have to think about it.

“ I’m totally committed to track and field. I wouldn’t switch to anything else.”