Malik McDowell commits to Michigan State against parents’ wishes

Five-star defensive end recruit Malik McDowell was one of the more interesting players to watch on national signing day. McDowell, one of the top-rate defensive linemen in the Class of 2014, played high school football at Southfield High School in Michigan. Despite that, his parents urged him to attend college elsewhere.

“We don’t want him at MSU,” McDowell’s mother Joya Crowe told the Detroit Free Press earlier this week. “Something happened, I don’t want to put it out there what it was, but I had a bad experience at MSU.”

McDowell’s father Greg said he feared his son would have “too much social life” if he attended Michigan State. Yet on Wednesday, with his father at his side, McDowell announced his decision to commit to the Spartans and signed his letter of intent.

“I like a lot about the Spartans,” he said. “I like Coach (Dantonio), Coach (Pat) Narduzzi and Coach Burton a lot, and Coach (Terry) Samuel too. Just the team atmosphere, I like the school atmosphere. Just the overall school, pretty much.”

We have no idea why McDowell’s parents were so set against MSU, but his love for the school apparently outweighed their concerns. What we do know is that the Spartans were very good in 2013. They should be a contender again next season.

H/T Dr. Saturday
Photo via Twitter/Tim Sullivan