Michigan State football commitment ‘a dream come true’ for East Lansing star Jace Clarizio

East Lansing’s Jace Clarizio runs for a touchdown against Everett during the second quarter on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, in East Lansing.

Jace Clarizio can recall days being outside for recess and hearing peers talk about not being able to realize their lofty sports dreams.

The East Lansing junior carried a different mindset. He bought into the message instilled by his parents that he could do anything he put his mind to.

That approach has led to Clarizio earning his shot to play college football at Michigan State. Clarizio, a running back, gave the Spartans a verbal commitment Tuesday while assistant coach Keith Bhonapha visited the school.

“It’s just a dream come true,” Clarizio said. “I’ve been dreaming about this ever since I picked up a football, really. From watching the games all the years and being like, ‘Man, I can’t wait until I’m out there,’ and telling my parents that. It’s really just a dream come true. It’s really surreal.”

Clarizio, who is regarded by 247Sports as a three-star recruit and the top running back in the state for the 2025 recruiting class, attracted plenty of interest from major programs. Boston College, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Kansas, USC and Louisville were among the programs to extend scholarship offers to Clarizio, who was a Michigan High School Football Coaches Association and Associated Press all-state selection after running for 1,247 yards and 16 touchdowns in 7.5 games for East Lansing as it made a run to the Division 2 state semifinals.

East Lansing’s Jace Clarizio, center, runs against Byron Center’s Luke Laska, left, and Andrew Kroft (9), Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in East Lansing, Mich. East Lansing won 42-20.

Despite options all across the country, the appeal of playing for the program in his hometown was too hard to pass up for Clarizio, who saw many benefits from his…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-state-football-commitment-dream-124428786.html

Author : Lansing State Journal

Publish date : 2024-05-16 12:44:28

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