Recruiting: Michigan State offers scholarship to JUCO DT Kyle Peko

2:00 PM, May 18, 2012 |

Detroit Free Press Special Writer
Mark Dantonio has not recruited the junior college ranks on a regular basis, but he has shown a willingness to go that route for players who can fill an immediate need.

That was the case in 2011, when the Spartans signed Fou Fonoti out of Cerritos College in California. Fonoti is a cousin of former Spartans Situpe and Domata Peko.

This year, Dantonio has offered another JUCO cousin of the Pekos: 6-foot-2, 290-pound Kyle Peko of Cerritos College. Kyle also is close friends with Fonoti. Through those connections, he has heard a lot of positives about the MSU program.

"I keep in touch and talk to Fou," Peko told spartanmag.com reporter Paul Konyndyk. "His brother Philo is on my team right now, so I always know what is going on with Fou. He says nothing but great things about Michigan State. He loves it up there. He loves the coaches, the program, the players, everything."

Peko started all 12 games for Cerritos College last season, leading the defensive line with 39 tackles and ranking second on the team in quarterback hurries (13) and tackles for loss (8). Tennessee, Utah, Pittsburgh, Kansas State and Brigham Young also have offered full scholarships.

The graduations of defensive tackles Anthony Rashad White and Tyler Hoover after the 2012 season means that the Spartans will have a significant need at that spot.

Peko, who will have two years of eligibility remaining, has indicated that he is not in a hurry to make his college choice. He plans on taking official visits before he decides. Look for Michigan State to host Peko and his family on campus sometime this fall or winter.
Spartan QB commitment set to move into rankings

Michigan State quarterback prospect Damion Terry of Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep is unranked by rivals.com, but the recruiting service is updating its rankings to reflect the spring camp and combine season. Terry, who attended the Elite 11 quarterback camp, is expected to be elevated to a three-star recruit. Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt had the following to say about Terry, after observing him at the Elite 11 camp:

“Terry is not a finished product, but the raw tools are certainly there. He is a big, strong-armed kid and appeared all of his listed 6-4 and 210 pounds. Terry effortlessly throws with power and should be able to have an even bigger arm once he gets his mechanics down. He has a tendency to palm the football during delivery and loses some velocity because of it. He will need to sharpen his footwork as well, but the sky is the limit, potentialwise, once he gets the finer points of the position down.”