Former Farmington Hills Harrison QB Tommy Vento hopes to land at Michigan State

MT. PLEASANT -- Former Farmington Hills Harrison quarterback Tommy Vento is following in the footsteps of two other former Harrison stars, Mill (The Thrill) Coleman and the Lions' Drew Stanton, by heading to Michigan State to play football.

At least, he hopes so.

At the 31st annual Michigan All-Star Football game Saturday at Central Michigan, Vento said he's a preferred walk-on for the fall at MSU. He said the business school there attracted him on the education side of the equation.

"To be honest, I felt like for me, even if you call it stupidity, call it arrogance, I just thought anything less than (Division I) was just settling," Vento said. "So I just wanted to try and make it in the big time, whatever that means. I just want to play another down, however that is, Michigan State or elsewhere.

"I really like the business school, but I also have some friends going there, and I really like the coaching staff. I just didn't feel like it was a negative decision in any way."

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Vento led Harrison to the Division 2 state championship last season. In the title game win over Lowell, he completed 19 of 32 passes for 310 yards -- second most in state finals history -- and three touchdowns.

"Coach (John Herrington) has never tried to push me in any direction," Vento said. "He knows different people thrive in different places. He told me wherever I wanted to go he hopes I can do well. I told him I wanted to go to Michigan State, and he supported me all the way."

Vento's stats at Harrison included 2,803 passing yards and 31 touchdowns last season. He completed 156 of 276 passes (56.5%) and was intercepted 12 times.

Wide receiver Takudzwa Kubvoruno of Gull Lake, who reportedly also will be a preferred walk-on at MSU this fall, caught three passes for 50 yards in the All-Star game, the longest a 31-yard grab.

Jeff Evans