MSU’s Jack Conklin was overlooked as a recruit, but not anymore

EAST LANSING – Nothing says desperation like sending a waterskiing video to Ron Zook.

Somewhere in their fruitless attempts to get a serious look from a major college coach, Darren and Jack Conklin heard Zook, then coach at Illinois, was a big water-skier. Jack was up to 6-feet-5 and about 280 pounds by then, the summer before his senior season, yet still able to slalom — stay up on one ski — with ease.

So they shot a video and sent it along. A little fun with a personal touch, and a chance to show off the size and athleticism no one else seemed to notice.

“Maybe he’ll see this and do something,” Darren, football coach at Plainwell High, said to his son at the time. - Read more at Freep.com