Recruiting: Anthony Mifsud

Chargerblue.com Note: Anthony Mifsud is the son of former Charger Dave Mifsud. Dave previously held the Hillsdale Single Season Receiving Touchdown Record before Aaron Waldie broke that record this fall.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007
College football: Recruiting
Dearborn quarterback learns value of patience
Tom Markowski / The Detroit News

DEARBORN -- Finding the right college is more complicated than Anthony Mifsud first thought.

Mifsud, named The Detroit News Dream team quarterback last season, led Dearborn to the Division 2 semifinals as a junior and to the regional finals last season.

With his high school football career behind him, Mifsud is anxious to make the jump to college.

His next step is to find the program that's a good fit not only athletically but academically. To do this patience has become a must.

"It's crazy," said Mifsud, who has a 4.0 grade-point average and scored a 29 on the ACT. This week, he also will have completed the second of two college courses he enrolled in this semester.

"When I think about it, I don't like the way it's done. But I understand they have to get the best players possible.

"I'm trying to enjoy it. I know, once it's over and I've made my decision, I'll be relieved."

Two weeks ago Mifsud, took an unofficial visit to Hillsdale College. The beginning of the dead period for recruiting began Monday (Dec. 17), so Mifsud's recruiting has been put temporarily on hold. He has one official visit scheduled for Jan. 12, but even that is subject to change. Princeton has offered him an official visit that weekend, but it's possible Mifsud will take an official visit to Villanova or, possibly, Richmond that weekend. The coaching staff from Davidson has expressed an interest in Mifsud and there's a chance he'll take an official visit in mid-January, but a date has not been set.

Other schools that have been in contact with Mifsud include Holy Cross and a few Division II schools like Grand Valley State.

It's common for Division II schools to wait until mid- to late January to offer recruits scholarships. Coaches at these schools are often put on hold by recruits who are holding out in hopes of gaining a scholarship offer from Division I schools.

It's like a recruiting waterfall. The best are scooped up by schools like Michigan and Michigan State. Further down are mid-major schools like Central Michigan and then Division I-AA, Division II and Division III.

Signing day is Feb. 6, so there's no reason to push the panic button.

Nevertheless Christmas at the Mifsuds won't be as relaxing as they had planned.

Mifsud remains confident an offer will come. Until then, he'll continue on with his classes and playing varsity basketball.

"I spoke with coaches from Villanova last week," Mifsud said. "And they might want me to visit on the 12th (of January). That might put me in a bad spot. I won't be able to go to both."

These are the decisions he will surely make after conversations with his family over the holidays.

You can reach Tom Markowski at (313) 223-4633 or tom.markowski@detnews.com.