Spartan Pupdate is introducing in-state QBs Part 2

(Editor's Note: This is the second in a two-part series with interviews with many of the top sophomore quarterbacks in the state. Part One was posted Monday.)

Brother Rice won the past two Michigan Division 2 football state titles with starter Shane LaCanaria, but a player who split time with LaCanaria last season is ready to lead the Warriors this season.

Rising junior Alex Malzone, who started splitting time in the playoffs last year, has seen colleges pay attention to his skills quickly.

"(Recruiting) just really just keeps coming along," Malzone told me. "I talked to a lot of coaches and schools this spring. I've spent time calling coaches, too, and a lot of them have been telling me to come to camp."

Malzone was in contact with coaches from Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State Illinois and Northwestern among others during the spring, but Michigan State is the only campus visit he has taken to-date.

"Coach Dantonio explained to me how they take one quarterback per class," he said. "We talked about the QB situation if they offer me and what the depth chart would look like. They said they want to see me throw live and see my upcoming junior film and then see what happens."

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect had to put football on slight hold during the spring, as he also is a standout baseball player and has attention from college coaches on the diamond, too.

"I had thought about playing both -- my parents want to me to -- but I just want to play one," Malzone said. "I'm just looking to focus on football."

As he turns his attention to some football camps this summer, Malzone will head to Michigan State, Michigan and hopes to at Ohio State and Toledo, depending upon how far the Brother Rice baseball team advances in the playoffs.

He also plans to either visit or camp at Tennessee, Penn State and Bowling Green.

As for MSU, he has the 2013 linebacker signee Jon Reschke, a Brother Rice graduate, in his ear a bit.

"Going into the year, I didn't know him as well, but go to through the year," Malzone said. "We played baseball together my freshman year and I have talked to him more and more.

"He tells me if State offers, I should take it."

Alex Malzone sophomore highlights

-- Troy and Troy Athens have a heated high-school rivalry and Alex Mussat is going experience first-hand just how intense it is this year.

The sophomore quarterback transferred from Troy to Athens after the fall semester and knows in the rivalry game this year, it will be interesting for him.

"It's a huge rivalry," Mussat said. "I've got a lot a lot of respect from most of the (Troy) football team, but other guys are threatening to take out my knees and go for my ACL. I'm just looking forward to a good, hard-fought game. I'm up for the challenge."

Mussat spent time on the varsity team last year when the starting quarterback went down with an injury.

"They called me up in the third game and we won a couple," Mussat said, "but when the starter came back, they gave me the choice and I chose to go back down to JV so i would play all the time."

In his two games on varsity, Mussat was 6 for 16 for 82 yards with a touchdown -- but it was a big one, a game-winning score against Rochester Stoney Creek. On the year, he was 54 of 86 for 772 yards and seven touchdowns, adding three rushing scores.

College coaches took notice of the sophomore, and many were by Athens this spring.

"I heard from Michigan State -- they came by a couple times," Mussat said. "Bowling Green has shown strong interest and came twice. Maryland and Western Michigan are showing interest, too."

Mussat, who trains with MaxEx, has been to Notre Dame and Northwestern with the training group, and has visited Bowling Green and Western Michigan. However, MSU remains at the top of the list for Mussat.

"I've been to a bunch of football games and basketball games," he said. "I'm a very, very big State fans, so going there would be a dream."

Mussat will be camping at MSU this summer, as well as Iowa, Central Michigan and maybe WMU.

Alex Mussat sophomore highlights

-- Cass Tech has won back-to-back state titles and Jayru Campbell has been under center for both.

The sophomore is the only 2015 quarterback to hold offers in the class so far -- including one from Michigan State. He holds additional offers from Alabama, Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Eastern Michigan.

The Technicians will be looking to win a couple more titles while Campbell -- and fellow 2015 standouts Mike Weber and Josh Alabi -- is wearing the green and white of Cass Tech.

Jayru Campbell sophomore highlights

-- Jake Johnson was having a big year for DeWitt before going down after six games with a broken thumb.

Johnson threw for 1,243 yards and 16 touchdowns and ran for 310 yards and six scores before his season ended.

DeWitt, a perennial contender in Division 2, finished 10-3, even after losing Johnson.

The sophomore has visited MSU before and, given the proximity to DeWitt, likely will be there again in the future.

Jake Johnson sophomore highlights

--Plymouth Canton just produced offensive guard Cameron Dillard, who went to Florida, and sophomore quarterback Greg Williams could be the next name to know.

Williams threw for 1,054 yards on 49 of 80 passing. He passed for 12 touchdowns and threw no interceptions.

Williams also plays basketball for Canton.

Greg Williams sophomore highlights