In the end, what Kirk Elsworth wanted was a chance to play running back at the next level.
With that in mind, the Goodrich senior, who set a Genesee County record for most rushing yards in a season and set a state record for touchdowns in a season, has verbally accepted a scholarship offer to play college football at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, a Division I school that plays in the Mid-American Conference.
‘I chose them because it seemed like a nice campus, and I had a good feel about there when I visited,? he said. ‘They wanted me at running back, which is what I wanted.?
When asked to confirm Elsworth agreeing to a scholarship with the Broncos, Daniel Jankowski, Western’s director of media relations, said National Collegiate Athletic Association rules prohibit school officials from commenting on the matter until the first day recruits can sign a national letter of intent, which is Tuesday, Feb. 1.
Goodrich coach Tom Alward said Western Michigan was a perfect fit for Elsworth.
‘It’s a Division I school and they have excellent facilities,? he said. ‘He was at the top of their list. They wanted him very badly and they wanted him to be a running back. They were looking for a back that describes Kirk to a T.?
With Elsworth leading the charge, the Martians won a school-record 10 games, captured the Genesee Area Conference Red Division championship, and made it to the regional finals. Elsworth was also featured in Sports Illustrated’s ‘Faces in the Crowd? section, profiling high school athletes throughout the nation, in its Nov. 22 issue.
Elsworth, who also played safety for the Martians, said most of the other schools that recruited him were interested in him on defense ‘at outside linebacker or as an athlete.?
He also said he was impressed with new Western coach Bill Cubit for being direct as far as what he and the Western staff saw in Elsworth.
‘He’s a very nice man,? Elsworth said of Cubit. ‘They were looking for a running back who wasn’t your typical 5?8? player with 4.3 speed. They were looking for someone to take a few shots and get the tough yards. I think they saw that in me.?
Elsworth also had a chance to visit with some current Western players during his recruiting visit. ‘They’re a bunch of great guys,? he said. ‘They had nothing but good things to say about Western.?
He said the chance to play in Michigan was not an overriding factor in his decision to attend Western.
‘While staying in state so your parents, family and friends can see you is nice, if a school outside of the state would have offered me a chance to play running back, I would have accepted,? he said.
A 3.0 student who also plays on the Goodrich varsity basketball and baseball teams, Elsworth plans to major in sports medicine. He said while Western’s sports medicine program is ‘not real big,? he is comfortable with it just the same.
Next year, the Broncos hope to bounce back from their 2004 campaign, in which they went 1-10 overall and 0-8 in the MAC.
Elsworth hopes to make a good first impression next year and help turn around Western’s fortunes. ‘I’ll try to make the travel team and get a chance to play, and keep improving on my athletic ability,? he said.