EAST LANSING, Mich. — Walking off the Michigan State practice field last week, Hunter Rison, with a helmet in hand and his high-fade hairdo intact, stopped in his tracks to field questions from members of the local media.
The true freshman wide receiver earned his moment in the spotlight. In the Spartans’ season-opening victory over Bowling Green, Rison was one of nine true freshmen that head coach Mark Dantonio trusted to touch the field. He recorded his first career catch — a 5-yard reception — in the second quarter.
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Rison has been the center of attention well before he was a consensus four-star recruit out of Ann Arbor’s Skyline High School. And that’s because he’s the son of one of the most prolific players to represent MSU football.
Rison’s father, Andre, a native of Flint, Michigan, is second all-time in school history in receiving yards (2,992). He’s fifth all-time in receptions (146). And Andre Rison, who played in East Lansing from 1985-88, is tied for fifth all-time in receiving touchdowns (20).
The elder Rison went on to play 12 NFL seasons for seven different teams, and he caught over 700 passes while racking up more than 10,000 yards in his pro career. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and he helped the Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl XXXI, catching a 54-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre on the Packers’ second play from scrimmage.
With his father’s impact in mind, Hunter Rison, who chose MSU over the likes of Alabama, Auburn and Miami (Fl.), chatted with The Athletic and a group of local reporters about his dad, carving out his own path and his quirky trip through recruitment:
James L. Edwards III: First off, it was an interesting scenario in which you committed to Michigan State, de-committed and then committed again. Anything you can say to clear that up?
Hunter Rison: I committed when I was really young. I was a sophomore in high school. I don’t think anyone can make a decision that young and know where they really want to go. So, as I matured, got more offers, visited other places, I realized that [MSU] was the place for me.
JE: What was the reason behind enrolling early?
Rison: I just wanted to get the playbook. Just me, as a person, I want to play. I don’t want to come in here and sit on the bench and stuff like that. I want to help my team get those wins. I knew that by getting here early, learning the playbook, just getting used to the speed of the game, was going to help me play early. And it has.
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JE: Did you at least go back for prom?
Rison: No, I didn’t go to prom — sacrifices … This is what I wanted to do.
JE: I’m sure people ask you about your father all of the time, but, for you, was [his impact] ever a reason to not choose MSU?
Rison: There was never a doubt just because of him. I tell people all the time that I didn’t come here because of him or de-commit because of him, or something like that. He always supported me. He always said, ‘This is your decision. Wherever you want to go, I’m going to support you because I know you can play.’
He had my back, and when I told him I was coming here, he was more than excited.
JE: Were you a MSU fan growing up?
Rison: Oh, yeah. My favorite receiver is Mark Dell.
JE: Oh, really? Why Mark? He was underrated.
Rison: He made plays. He was very underrated. He made plays all the time. I used to love him. No. 2.
JE: Did your dad push you into football, or was that something he let you find on your own?
Rison: Oh, no. I found that on my own. When I was 5 years old, I loved football. I think my mom has a video of me saying I want to be a football player when I was five. That was before I even knew the stardom of my pops.
JE: Obviously, he was there for your first game [against Bowling Green]. Did he give you any advice before?
Rison: No, uh-uh. He just texted me right before the game when we got back in from warmups. He said he loved me and to play fast. So, I did that.
JE: Did he say anything after, once you got your first catch?
Rison: He talked about it. He talked about some plays and stuff like that. He gave me some advice. But that’s just him. He’s a coach, so he’s always going to coach me.
JE: What’s the best story someone else has told you about his playing days?
Rison: Probably, he had a drop against Northwestern, and then the next play he took it 70 [yards] for a touchdown. There’s a picture of him just smiling and looking up at the “JumboTron”, so that’s pretty funny.
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JE: Dantonio has talked about this young receiving corps and how he expects them to play going forward. Did you think you would be able to come in and play this early?
Rison: He always tells us to prepare ourselves for the opportunity, so it would be wrong of me to prepare myself to sit on the bench. I prepare myself to be out there just like a starter would, because that’s how we win games. You’re only as strong as your weakest link, so if I prepare myself like a starter, then there’s no limit on our receiving group.
JE: I know you graduated high school in Ann Arbor, but did you grow up there?
Rison: I was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and then I moved to Chandler, Arizona. I played [MSU quarterback Brian Lewerke, a native of Phoenix, Arizona] in a high school playoff game. When [Lewerke] was at Pinnacle, I was at Basha High School. He played my team and he torches us. That is what it is.
JE: Did you guys build a relationship at that time?
Rison: My quarterback [in high school] went to the same quarterback coach that [Lewerke] did, so I would go out there and catch balls from him, not knowing he would be my quarterback in two years. It’s kind of funny.
JE: Last thing, just stepping out onto that field for that first time, what did that mean to you in terms of your potential? Not a lot of guys play as true freshmen.
Rison: I just appreciate that. I have to take it how it is. I’m out there as a freshman, so I have to perform like I’m not a freshman, really. I have to step up to the plate, and I know, for the future, it’s just going to get me more prepared to bring my class along. They can ask me for advice about how it is out there. … So, I know that I’m in the position to make big leaps and help my class come up, as well.
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