Top 2014 MSU Football Recruiting Target Matt Sokol Talks About His Recruitment with Spartan Nation!
Top 2014 MSU Football Recruiting Target Matt Sokol Talks About His Recruitment with Spartan Nation!
Q: Matt, how you doing brother?
A: I’m doing really well, thank you.
Q: You’re just an old school football player. You can play a lot of positions. Is that being fair?
A: Yeah, thank you very much. I would agree, I guess. Thanks.
Q: You do a lot of different things well. You remind me a lot of Riley Bullough. Do you see that similarity?
A: Yeah. He is an incredible athlete. So to even be compared to him is an honor. So thank you. My high school coaches use my versatility for high school, I think. I played a lot of positions. I’ve moved around in my football career a lot. So I guess I would agree with that, yeah.
Q: You do the little things. Does it come from coaching, does it come from your parents?
A: For sure, my parents. My parents both graduated from West Point and have definitely taught me a lot about being responsible and taught me a lot of characteristics that I have today with work ethic. My head coach has really, definitely influenced me in just doing everything you can to your ability to be the best person, best player you can. The little things really matter on the field and off the field, work ethic, and dedication to what you love, is really gonna get you places in life. A lot of people that have been around me and have supported me have really…I really wouldn’t be anywhere without their support, their advice. Especially my dad, he’s really been there with me through a lot of long nights and a lot of things. So I can’t thank any of them enough for influencing me on my game pretty much.
Q: Matt, you referenced both of your parents went to West Point, they were both officers in the United States Army. Would you talk about their commitment to our nation and our country?
A: Definitely. I have no greater respect than for anyone who has served in the military. It’s something especially that’s been so close to home. The values that I’ve learned from them are gonna carry with me the rest of my life. So I definitely have a very, very high respect for anyone that has served.
Q: I asked one of your opposing high school coaches what he thought your greatest strength was and he said your discipline. He thinks it has to come from your parents because kids your age you don’t see it. Is it?
A: I say thank you to whatever coach said that and I really appreciate it. I think the discipline definitely comes in from my parents, and even more so on the football field from my head coach and the coaching staff at my school. Adams has been a real dominant football program in the past 16 years, and really established a tradition of just consistency and of discipline and doing the right thing, never lacking focus on the field in a practice. In offense you gotta be consistent, you gotta be disciplined with your reads and your assignments on each play, because if one thing goes wrong the play is blown. I think definitely my head coach and my coaching staff has established discipline on our team.
Q: Who’s been your primary recruiter?
A: Brad Salem.
Q: How many times have you been up on campus?
A: As of last Friday, that was my fourth time on campus.
Q: What are your general thoughts on Michigan State and are they legitimate contenders for your talents?
A: First of all, I have the highest respect for Coach Dantonio and all of the coaching staff at Michigan State in their program. To receive an offer from such a prestigious football program that’s been so successful, it’s just so honoring. It’s a huge honor, it’s humbling. My family has grown up State fans so at home it’s very exciting. I’m very excited about the opportunity. It’s just a great honor and I’m never gonna forget that day.
Q: When you talk to them, tell us what they’re telling you about position.
A: I think really what has led me to be successful is really just my athleticism and my ability to play. I really don’t have a lot of tight end game film. Most of my tight end recruitment has been off stuff that I’ll be doing in the spring. With the coaches, I’m really looking forward to participating in their senior one-day camp June 16. As far as the position factor for Michigan State goes, I think I have a lot of room to grow and develop as a tight end. I think I could be a mish-mash player, a dominant mish-mash player on their offensive team. I think that’s what they like about me. I think they like my speed and my ability to catch the ball.
Q: Do you personally have a timeframe of when you want to make a decision or are you just going to wake up one day, eat your Wheaties and know?
A: I have for sure sat down with my coach and I made the choice that it would be really nice to know and I really plan on making a decision pretty well before my senior year of football, so I can really sit down and buckle down with my teammates and really get the season started. Michigan State’s offer, I wasn’t expecting an offer, and it’s really sped up my recruiting process and heated up a little bit. So I’m sure I’m gonna make a decision in the coming weeks. I’m not sure if it’s gonna be either early summer or I’m not sure if it’s gonna be five days from now. So I’m not really sure. It’s very exciting. Every recruit gets to go through the process once, so you just gotta enjoy it. Take in every second and enjoy every moment of it. Every school that has ever shown an interest I can’t be more appreciate of the opportunities that I’ve been given. It’s a really big decision. I really am a person that I respect the fact that when you commit to a school that’s where you’re committing. You’re not de-committing. You’ve given the school your word. Once I make the decision I just wanna be 110% sure that’s where I wanna go and that’s where I wanna continue my football career.
Q: Somebody at your school said that you’re a leader and whatever school you pick they think you’ll get on the phone, Facebook , Twitter, whatever, and try to recruit guys to join you. Is that true?
A: Yeah. There’s a lot of great players that I’ve gotten to reach out and become pretty close friends with, even those players from other schools, guys that I’ve been playing with in the spring and I’ve gotten to develop… When I do decide to make a decision I’ll definitely be really happy to, so I’d really love to bring guys and encourage them to try out for wherever school I would be…
Q: I’m watching film of you last night and after a particularly bone crushing hit, my 7 year old says to me he thinks you play like a swamp monster. So he’s nicknamed you the Swamp Monster. What do you think of that?
A: That’s awesome. I love it.
Q: So wherever you pick, my 7 year old calls you the Swamp Monster.
A: That’s awesome. Tell him I love it and tell him thank you…that’s an awesome name to have.
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