By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com
GRAND HAVEN—Grand Haven offensive lineman Ashton Lepo will continue his football career next fall when he joins the Michigan State Spartans. Lepo, an Associated Press 2021 first-team selection, has signed his national letter of intent.
Lepo had numerous Division 1 offers, which included Baylor, Indiana, Rutgers, Cincinnati and eight Mid-American schools along with the Michigan State offer. In the end, he chose Michigan State.
“He’s been a big Michigan State fan his whole life,” Grand Haven coach Mike Farley said. “Ashton has done a good job here (at Grand Haven). Playing at Michigan State was a dream of his and to play Division 1 football. He has put the effort in both the classroom and on the field.”
“He’s big and physical,” Farley commented.
According to the veteran coach, when he returned as head coach two years ago, Lepo weighed in at 220 pounds and now checks in at 303 pounds.
“He has really dedicated himself in the weight room and he has really dedicated himself to getting better and learning the game of football,” Fariley said “Ashton is pretty fluid athletically.”
Farley believes Lepo’s role would likely be red-shirted as a freshman and work himself into playing time in the following season or two.
Lepo currently has a 3.4 GPA at Grand Haven and will attend MSU on a full-ride scholarship. Ashton is the son of Jeff and Joy Lepo.
During his two years as a starter for the Bucs, Lepo earned a number of awards which include:
First-Team All OK Red Conference 2020, 2021
First-Team All Muskegon Area 2020, 2021
First-Team All Region MHSFCA 2020, 2021
MHSFCA “Dream Team” First-Team All State 2021
AP First-Team All State 2021
Detroit Free Press “Dream Team” First-Team All State 2021
Photo courtesy of the Grand Haven Athletic Department
