Michigan State 2023 Target Sedrick Irvin Jr.: Irvin Duo
“I was really excited, it means a lot, being my dad’s Alma Mater,” Sedrick Irvin Jr., class of 2023 target said.
His father? Former Michigan State running back and NFL player, Sedrick Irvin.
“For me it was big. I’m going to let him go through the process like I did, and I hope he enjoys it like I did. He’s going to make his own decision, because my footsteps, I wear a size 13 and a half, those are some big shoes to fill,” Irvin said.
As a former Michigan State running back, he is in the top-10 for running backs at MSU, and is 5 in most rushing yards in MSU history.
Reflecting on his football career, Irvin said, “It’s funny. I get back with my guys now, and they ask me if I’d rather go back to the NFL or college, and I say college. Coming to East Lansing was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The people I met off the field, and my teammates. I tell my son it’s a college town, the people love East Lansing. You’ll see it every Saturday.”
Irvin Jr. can already sense the love from the fan-base at Michigan State.
He said, “It has a nice town and it has a nice fan-base. After I got the offer, immediately, the fans were showing so much love. It was all the good things I like to see.”
Having his dad go through the NCAA process and make it to the NFL, Irvin Jr. looks up to him as an idol.
“He’s gone to where I want to be when I’m older, it’s always pushing me like, extra motivation,” Irvin Jr. said.
As of now, he does not have a list of top five schools. To him, everyone is on the same playing field. Especially since he wants to get a feel for all of the schools.
When it comes to making a decision, Irvin said, “I want him to make his own path. It’s his world, I want him to live it. I’m just here to guide him.”
Coaching his son at Gulliver Prep, the two have a relationship on and off the field. However, Irvin has been coaching his son long before.
“For me, I’ve been coaching him since the womb. When his mom was pregnant, we were going over football drills, I was talking to the belly every night. When he was born, he started playing football at an early age, doing drills, holding the ball, watching the game week in and week out. He started playing at the age of 4, and each year he keeps getting better and better,” Irvin said.
The father-son relationship at home is what they call a, “competitive nature”.
“Anything that’s fun, like going in the pool to race and wrestle, anything. It’s just fun being together,” Irvin Jr. said.
“When we wrestle, you know I win right?” Irvin said.
“I think it’s even right now. He won the first time, and I won the second time. I don’t think it’s leading more my way or his way,” Irvin Jr. said.
A key person that keeps that father-son dynamic relationship going is, Irvin Jr.’s mom.
“He has a beautiful, intelligent mom. Her name is, Octavias Irvin. We call her the backbone, the decision-maker of the family. She’s also a blessing to this group that we call father and son, as well,” Irvin said.
“I grew up without a father, and I always said, if I could pick my father, I would pick him as my father. They have a great relationship, they’re very competitive. He (Irvin Jr.) really looks up to his dad, and he (Irvin) takes a lot of interest in our kids,” Octavias said.
The greatest piece of advice Irvin Jr. received from his dad was, “As long as you’re giving it your all, you can always make an impact on somebody.”
Looking up to his dad for guidance, Irvin Jr. said he wants to go to a place that feels like, “Home. I know that people are going to support me no matter where I go. I want a place where I have the opportunity to play, or a place where I can work hard for a position to play.”
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