Dontea Ayres: “I Just Love It”

Photo courtesy of Facebook.com

Dontea Ayres from Salisbury (MD) Wicomico HS may only be 5’8″, but don’t call him undersized.  That’s because he is 205 lbs, runs a 4.5 forty and self-reports (this isn’t a joke) a 455 lb bench press and 655 lb squat.  And that is not a type-o.

It’s these astounding numbers that have Ayres receiving attention from around the country.  “Stanford, they’re recruiting me very hard.  Penn State’s recruiting me hard, Maryland is recruiting me hard.  Tennessee and Michigan State – they’ve all been in contact,” he said.  “[I don’t have] offers yet, but they’re just waiting to see my transcript.”

What is Ayres looking for in his college decision?  “Academics.  Academics are the most important,” he said, while adding that history and a winning tradition would be nice.  “That’s something that Penn State definitely has, a winning tradition,” he said about the Nittany Lions.

Speaking of the Nittany Lions, where do they sit this early in the process?  “If I had to choose now, I’d definitely choose Penn State.  I love Penn State.  Penn State’s a dream school…I just love it.”

Although Dontea has not talked to the PSU coaches specifically about an offer, he has sat down with them and talked about the recruiting process.  Furthermore, he has been on campus twice this summer, and added that he’d like to make it up for a game this year.