ADDISON, Ill. -- Not many juniors make it to The Opening, but 2017 Ann Arbor (Mich.) Skyline wide receiver Hunter Rison was disappointed he didn’t earn an invite after a strong performance at the Nike Opening Regional Chicago.
Will Andre Rison’s son Hunter be a Spartan in 2017?
To compete with Michigan State, a pass-heavy program will have to create the same type of comfort level Rison already feels in East Lansing.
He comes by the competitiveness naturally -- his father, Andre Rison, spent 12 years in the NFL and put up more than 10,000 receiving yards. Football fans old enough to remember the elder Rison catching passes for the Falcons may see some similarities in the younger Rison, who says that he models his game after his father.
“My game that you see is his game,” Rison said. “He tells me what to do and I try to soak it up because I know he knows what it takes.”
The son is following in his father’s footsteps, with one question looming large in the early stages of his recruitment. Will he become the next Rison to catch passes for Michigan State?
The Spartans are the first major program to offer the 5’11, 183-pounder, who is building a relationship with 2016 quarterback commit Messiah deWeaver.
“He’s a cool dude,” said Rison. “We talk and try to play with each other in these one-on-ones, things like that. He’s committed to Michigan State and that’s one of my top schools. I can definitely see myself playing with him at the next level. He’s a great thrower and just a great overall player.”
There’s also a high level of familiarity with the Michigan State staff because of Rison’s family ties.
“You can go in the building and just know the staff,” he said. “They treat you like family. There’s no fake stuff. It’s a family -- I’m an alumnus, pretty much.”
However, Rison said that being a Michigan State legacy won’t really influence his recruitment.
”I mean, it’s a great school. I love the school, but ultimately it’s going to be my decision. Great program, love everything about it. I just want to see what other schools come into the picture because I haven’t had a chance to explore all those other schools.
Other than Michigan State, Rison has had some contact with Alabama and Tennessee so far.
One school that he wants to hear from is Baylor because of the wide-open Bears passing offense. Three players accumulated 800 or more receiving yards in 2014, a fact that has Rison’s attention. So it’s not surprising the unranked wide receiver said that he wants to play in an offense that throws the ball more than it runs it.
In addition to fielding a pass-heavy offense, programs hoping to land Rison will have to help him feel the same type of comfort level he already has with Michigan State.
“If it doesn’t feel like a fit now, it’s not going to be a fit later.”
For the moment, though, Rison is heeding the advice of his father in more ways than just mimicking his route-running ability on the field.
“He tells me just wait,” Rison said of the recruiting process. “Just show people what you can do on the field and all the offers will come in. Just wait and be patient with it.”
