Speedster Rodney Graves commits to Western Michigan

Speed kills! That was one of the reasons why Western Michigan surprised Detroit Cody senior wide receiver Rodney Graves, with an offer last week. Graves then turned around and surprised P.J. Fleck and his staff on Sunday with his verbal commitment to the Broncos.

Graves also a NAIA offer from Davenport, but the offer from Western Michigan was too tempting to turn down.

Extremely blessed and honored to announce that I have committed to Western Michigan University!!!🏈 #GoBroncos #RTB pic.twitter.com/yXLuFTPWn1— Rodney Graves Jr. (@rgraves_1) October 4, 2015

"I chose WMU because it seemed like the right fit for me," Graves said. "The coaching staff is great, and I really get along with the head coach. Western also passes the ball a lot too, so that really caught my eye."

The 6-2, 175-pounder, Graves, said that Western Michigan is recruited him as a wide receiver, although he plays both ways for in high school Cody. Graves was on the WMU campus when he committed, and said he enjoyed his time their. He also had intentions on joining the Broncos' 2016 cycle before he arrived to Kalamazoo, to the delight of head coach P.J. Fleck, who he committed to.

"I simply told the coaches that I'm ready to become a Bronco, and they were extremely excited of my decision," Graves said. "I like everything about WMU. The campus, the environment, and the facilities were amazing. They treat the players well, and the program really focuses on making the individual better as a person, and not just winning football games."

For Graves, committing to Western Michigan took a huge load of off his and his family's shoulders. He has been through a lot over the last few months with a nagging hamstring injury that kept him from competing over the summer, and slowed up his recruitment. But Graves' setbacks were not going to outshine his talent. A standout on the track as well, Graves won the Detroit Public School League 200m final with a time of 22.09, and finished third in the state last season with a time of 22.10, on a bad hamstring. If Graves continues to stay healthy, he could be a steal for WMU with his size, versatility, and speed.

"It feels very relieving," Graves said on finally committing to a Division I school. "My hamstring injury set me back in the summer, and I couldn't attend any camps. So just knowing that all of the rehab and treatment paid off feels like a great accomplishment. It feels wonderful, especially that fact that my mom doesn't have to stress about paying for college. It took a lot off of her back too. I'm also proud of myself that all of my hard work is paying off."

Graves became the 21st commit in Western Michigan's class of 2016, and the third from the city of Detroit, joining Martin Luther King's, Dontre Boyd, and Consortium's Jaylon Moore.

Rodney Graves 3 week senior highlights: