These days, Kyler Elsworth is seeing plenty of green. And white for that matter.
The 2009 Goodrich High School graduate and wrestling stand-out, whose stellar career featured a school record 232 wins, along with two individual state titles and two team state crowns, has stepped away from his years as a grappler for a shot at Division I college football at Michigan State University.
Despite full wrestling scholarship offers at Indiana University, the University of North Carolina, and Michigan State University, as well as a handful of partial scholarships, including the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Elsworth opted to step off the mat and onto the green field of Spartan Stadium.
‘I had more of a love for football,? said Elsworth, 18, a pre-med freshman. ‘It’s just like a job to me’I was not going to be miserable wrestling. For that matter, I love the school’we have our own medical schools right here on the East Lansing campus. I am a preferred walk-on player, which guarantees me a spot on the team. I attended all the training camps with the team, just like the scholarship players. Right now I’m ‘red-shirted? as a freshman, which means I’ll be eligible to be here for five years.?
Elsworth dresses for all the home games, but does not travel to away contests.
‘It’s a big step up to go from a school with a graduating class of about 200 and with 23 varsity players on the football team to a division one college team. Everyone on the team are just great players’consider some of these guys are 6-foot-5 inches, weigh 250 pounds and can run 40 yards in 4.7 seconds.?
At 6-foot-1-inch and 215 pounds, Elsworth, who is taking aim at outside linebacker on defense or full back on offense, added a few pounds since his days as a Martian. However, playing against some of the nation’s greatest football talent is something to remember.
‘I’ve never been hit so hard in my life’these players are focused and can really lay you out. It absolutely takes your breath away,? said. ‘Our practices are from 2:15 to 7 each day’right now they all want to beat Michigan.?
Kyler is the son of Richard and Rebecca Elsworth of Goodrich.