By Tom Groeschen
Enquirer staff writer

Mister Simpson. (Enquirer file photos)

Colerain fullback Mister Simpson committed today to the University of Michigan, his home state football team.

Simpson, who grew up in the Detroit area, is the first major Cincinnati prep recruit to announce a commitment this summer. He enters his senior year at Colerain ranked among Ohio's top 20 prep prospects by several recruiting services, including theinsiders.com and Ohio High magazine.

The 6-foot, 208-pound Simpson rushed for 1,658 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior last fall, when Colerain reached the Division I regional finals. He was named second team All-Ohio and first team All-District.

"I've really wanted to go to Michigan all along," Simpson said. "They offered me at their summer camp last week, and my mind was pretty much made up right then."

Simpson's family moved to Cincinnati when he was in the eighth grade. He has been the starting fullback at Colerain for two years.

"He's a physical runner and he runs extremely hard," Colerain coach Kerry Coombs said. "He's got a great combination of power and speed."

Simpson said Indiana, Minnesota and Pittsburgh were among others who offered him scholarships.

"I even wanted to look at some of the MAC schools like Bowling Green and Toledo, but I'm from Michigan and I wanted to go back there," he said.

Simpson's commitment to Michigan is an oral agreement. The university cannot comment until Simpson signs his national letter of intent in February 2005.

Email tgroeschen@enquirer.com