2012 Michigan State DE SeVon Pittman is a Gentle Giant Off the Field and a Monster On It!

 Se’Von Pittman is a scholar and a football player. Now, he may be the most-prized member of Michigan State’s 2012 recruiting class. Pittman, who is

 

Se’Von Pittman is a scholar and a football player. Now, he may be the most-prized member of Michigan State’s 2012 recruiting class.

Pittman, who is friends and teammates with McKinley High’s own Jermaine Edmondson, has a passion for the game of football that has brought him to where he is today. He committed to MSU before his friend Edmondson did, and then proceeded to try to convince him to attend the same school and make their mark together. Going all out is Pittman’s strong suit. He recently took time to speak to Spartan Nation.

“Just the fact that you can have fun and get after the ball and really show how strong you are – just compete,” Pittman said. “It’s something I’ve been raised doing. It’s a great thing.”

Pittman also has a respect for football which you don’t see in most high school athletes, especially 17-year-olds who have the ability to play the game hard because they were taught to treat it like their own special craft. Pittman’s respect for the game is a byproduct of both his family and his head coach, knowing full well that he has to put his entire body on the line when in the heat of battle.

“Coach tells us all the time to know who you are and go every day, kind of like someone’s watching you,” Pittman said. “I don’t want anyone to see me as a trash talker or an ignorant player. We’re all here to have fun and compete and win.”

Pittman’s respect for football is impressive, but he was drawn to Michigan State even more because of the academic ramifications.

He studies as hard as he plays and takes his schooling very seriously. He was impressed by Michigan State’s coaches, not in terms of X’s and O’s but because he was told that prospering in the classroom should be every student-athlete’s top priority. It was refreshing words for a high school junior who received mixed messages from coaches at other programs.

“Part of the reason why I chose Michigan State is because they told me academics come first,” Pittman said. “A lot of schools were telling me, ‘Yeah, you’ll take care of your academics here,’ but they were really stressing football. Talking to coach Dantonio, we really talked about grades and I wanted to know if I slack off a little bit if they would be there to help me.

“Grades are very important in my house, and my mom stressed that more than anything. Without football, you can always fall back on your grades.”

Dantonio has become well respected in terms of putting certain things first before the game of football, knowing full well that he is coaching young kids and wants them to understand everything life has to offer. He also recruits players, like Pittman for example, who put their fellow teammates on a pedestal for the good of the team.

“At the end of the day, all this that is going on with me is a blessing,” Pittman said. “I don’t want to be cocky and say this was supposed to happen. At the end of the day, football can be taken away from you like that. So, I’ve got to cherish every moment.”

The 6-foot-5, 265 pound lineman is a strong-willed person who possesses the faith in his abilities, and even most of all, what he believes in spiritually. He has that in common with his soon-to-be head coach, learning from his family the sacrifices it takes to become great. He also wants to use his skills and likeness to develop a bond with his future community in East Lansing, as well as back at home in Canton, Ohio.

“To a lot of kids down here (in Ohio), I may be their hero and I want them to know it’s great to be a Canton McKinley football player and help them out,” Pittman said.

Pittman fits the mold as a great player with even greater qualities, making his family proud and taking advantage of this special journey he is currently enjoying. His wanting to help others and achieve academic success just shows that maturity is not truly based on age or appearance.