Pinckney’s Kanka receives Michigan football offer, considering rivals

On Apr 7, 2022

Pinckney's Bobby Kanka (left) visits at Ohio State with Buckeyes director of recruiting Jack Griffith.

Bobby Kanka has been a University of Michigan football fan for as long as he can remember, but he’s willing to step into what Wolverines consider enemy territory during his college recruiting process.

The freshman defensive lineman from Pinckney recently received a scholarship offer from Michigan, adding to the growing list of colleges interested in his services.

However, that didn’t keep the 6-foot-4, 255-pound prospect from checking out Ohio State or planning a visit to Michigan State for its upcoming spring game.

When an athlete’s future is at stake, it doesn’t pay to view the process through the prism of fandom.

“I grew up 25 minutes away from (Michigan),” Kanka said. “It’s kind of hard not to watch them. I’ve gone to a bunch of spring games, not as a recruit, just with family.

“You’ve always got to figure out the other side of it. So, if Michigan is hating Ohio State so much and Ohio State is hating Michigan so much, you’ve got to go to both schools to see what they’re truly like.”

Shortly after receiving his Michigan offer, Kanka attended the Under Armour Next Camp Series event near Columbus, Ohio. He visited Ohio State during that trip.

He was at Michigan’s spring game last Saturday and plans to attend Michigan State’s spring game April 16.

“It’s crazy to put it in perspective, because I’ve watched all these schools growing up,” Kanka said. “I personally have never been to Ohio State’s campus, even their facility. Going there last month was pretty cool to see how great all their facilities and people are.

“Michigan, I went to a game visit there last fall, but it was cool to be back in the Big House again, the biggest football stadium in the world. I plan to get back to Ohio State for a game in the fall.”

Kanka also has offers from Syracuse and Miami (Ohio). A Penn State assistant came to Pinckney in January to establish a connection with Kanka.

Other schools interested include Alabama, Arkansas State, Florida State, Oklahoma, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin.

Being offered so early by the Wolverines was a surprise.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting the offer when I called the guy,” Kanka said. “I called him at like 10 in the morning and it came pretty quick. I was ecstatic getting an offer from my hometown team. It’s pretty cool. The last couple times I’ve gone there I’ve been able to talk with three or four coaches and start building relationships with them.”

Kanka won’t graduate high school for three more years, so he’s not in a hurry to make a decision or start narrowing down his list.

“I definitely don’t think I’m gonna commit any time soon,” he said. “I’m still a kid. I want to experience all the experiences I can have, just be a kid and go to these places. I’ll find where it feels like home to me. I want it to feel right in my heart before I do anything.”

He’s trying to not let the recruiting process overwhelm him.

“It’s not as crazy as you would think if you’re a kid and thinking about how it would feel,” he said. “It doesn’t feel completely different. You’ve got to do your schoolwork, you’ve got to come home, go to bed. I still can’t drive right now. I’ve got to do drivers’ training. It’s all cool and everything, but I’ve still got a whole life ahead of me, too.”

The other question looming over Kanka is where he will continue playing high school football. After Rod Beaton stepped down as head coach in November, a replacement wasn’t hired until March 9. New coach Jason Carpenter has already talked with Kanka and his family. Other high schools have contacted Kanka during the period of uncertainty.