Grant Larkin, Mantas Zilys, Tanner Mally

Neuqua Valley’s Grant Larkin felt a twinge of anguish.

“If I could, I’d go to every place that offered,” he said.

On the eve of his senior year, the all-purpose playmaker in football elected for the pedigree and positional fit at North Dakota State. He plans to play safety in Fargo.

The Bison, who are the gold standard at the Football Championship Subdivision level, captured five straight national titles between 2011 and 2015 and won four more the last six years.

“Their fan base is just electric,” Larkin said. “They really get into it. Even before they offered, they were high on my list of schools.”

Despite missing several games last season due to concussion protocol, Larkin played multiple positions as Neuqua (10-2) reached the Class 8A quarterfinals.

Larkin saw action at running back, slot receiver and wide receiver. Defensively he played both cornerback and safety.

He finished with five touchdowns, averaging 12.4 yards a catch on 24 receptions. He also averaged 6.0 yards rushing.

Larkin selected the Bison over Air Force, Illinois State and Northern Iowa.

“The recruiting process was a really cool part of my life,” he said. “I’ve traveled to a lot of fascinating places the last six months, and it really amped up the last two months.

“In talking with my family, I just learned to control what I could control. I was blessed to have the opportunities I had.”

A critical factor was where North Dakota State wanted him to play.

“Illinois State and Northern Iowa both wanted me to play receiver, which was really appealing,” Larkin said. “A lot of schools saw me with a higher ceiling at safety.

“In addition to Army, North Dakota State saw me more as an athlete.”

With his future settled, Larkin is now excited about getting to the next stage.

“I haven’t played a huge amount of defensive back, but I’m a football player,” he said. “I’m going to do whatever I’m asked.”

Redhawks roundup: Naperville Central boys basketball coach Pete Kramer said guard Mantas Zilys was one of 16 players invited to try out for Lithuania’s U-18 national team.

Naperville Central football coach Mike Ulreich said all-area defensive end Ty Randle decided to change commitments at the eleventh hour. Randle will now play at Indianapolis.

Naperville Central’s Max Grumbles, who played tackle and linebacker, has committed to Sewanee in Tennessee.

Two other former Naperville Central standouts — quarterback Owen Prucha and wide receiver James Jopes — have decided to attend Big Ten schools as students.

A two-year starter, Prucha passed up on several NCAA Division II and Division III opportunities to attend Indiana.

Jopes, who started at wide receiver and played three years of varsity basketball, will attend Iowa.

Bronco bound: Naperville North infielder Tanner Mally said time operates differently with recruiting in baseball.

“I think the most interesting part of the process was how long it was for me,” Mally said. “I started last year, and now it is a huge relief to have it done so I can just play again.”

That made this week so much more special. Mally, who earned all-conference honors playing second base, announced his commitment to Western Michigan.

As a junior, Mally hit .465 with 40 hits, 31 runs, 10 stolen bases, 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 14 RBIs for the Huskies.

“There were a lot of factors like how long it would take me to play and the academic and athletic fit,” Mally said. “The culture Western Michigan has built with their baseball program is what drew my attention.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.