Go Green! Caudill makes Michigan State football commitment official
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LEXINGTON — Joe Caudill made it official.
In front of his friends, family, teammates and coaches, the Lexington senior signed his National Letter of Intent to play Division I college football at Michigan State University on Wednesday afternoon at Lexington High School. He committed to play for the Spartans during his junior basketball season and never waivered putting pen to paper nearly 11 months to the day after his verbal commitment.
"It is super exciting," Caudill said. "This is a day I have always dreamed of. A lot of hard work coming together and that is really cool to see."
Caudill remained committed to the Spartans despite the departure of former head coach Jonathan Smith.
"It's been a stressful few weeks, but the entire staff has done an amazing job of keeping everyone together and keeping this incoming class together," Caudill said. "I have reached out with a bunch of guys on the phone and we are all talking through it. We committed to Michigan State because of the program and the university and we believe the direction is in great shape."
Since then, Michigan State has hired former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald as the 27th head football coach in Michigan State history. As the announcement of the hiring hit the airwaves, Fitzgerald was already on the phone with Caudill checking in to make sure he was still coming to East Lansing.
"He wants a physical brand of football and that is the expectation he is going to lay out," Caudill said. "I am all for it. He sees something in me that fits that brand and I cannot wait to get started. I want to come in and compete right away and show my worth. I'll be there every day ready to work hard, do my best and be a leader every day."
Caudill leaves Lexington as one of the most accomplished athletes in school history. He is a three-year letterman in track with two Ohio Cardinal Conference team championships. In basketball, he is a three-year letterman and earned special mention All-Ohio honors during his junior season. He helped his team win three OCC titles during his playing time with the Minutemen.
On the football field, he thrived. As a four-year letterman, Caudill racked up the awards during his senior season. He was the OCC Defensive Player of the Year and the Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year. He earned first team All-OCC and Northwest District and was the North Central Ohio Football Coaches Association Defensive Lineman of the Year while leading his team to the first outright OCC title since 2008 and the first since sharing it in 2012.
He owns nine school records, but his impact has been felt more than just on the football field.
"He has been a pleasure to be around," Lexington principal and Caudill's Linebackers coach Jamie Massi said. "He has made a difference not only on the field, court or track, but in the classroom, too. He is a guy I am terribly going to miss and it will be hard to come to school and not have Joe here. It has been a pleasure to know him and I love him to death."
Caudill finished his senior year going 112-for-189 passing with 1,730 yards and 25 touchdowns to go with 671 rushing yards on 126 carries with eight scores. He led the Minutemen with 2,412 all-purpose yards. On defense, he tallied 59.5 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions for an exceptional two-way season.
He is headed to Michigan State to play tight end next fall.
"It is great to get a chance to celebrate a special kid," Lexington head football coach Andrew Saris said. "It is a joyous day and extremely exciting and I am so proud of him, but part of me is a little sad because I will not get to be around his leadership, the quality of individual and the outstanding student athlete that Joe Caudill is. He put his stamp on this program and this school and it will live forever."
More than his stats, Saris praised Caudill's leadership as he led Lexington to a 9-2 overall record this season for the best single-season mark since the 10-0 2008 team.
"When he was able to do day in and day out on our football field is extraordinary," Saris said. "He came to work with a mindset and attitude to make his teammates better and he made his coaches better in the process. He has never flinched. Every time you put something new in front of Joe, he has tackled it with the best of his ability and was willing to run through a brick wall to get it done."
Saris knows Michigan State is getting a gem.
"I remember sitting in my office with the Michigan State Football staff telling them they were going to get someone who is going to come in and define the culture of the program," Saris said. "He is going to make the program better just like he did here at Lexington. They are getting someone who is going to do everything they ask of him and he will do it to the best of his ability.
"He is leaving a legacy that will last forever."
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington's Caudill signs NLI to play football at Michigan State
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