Terrell Porter's Game Plan Changes

Sometimes even the most concrete plans are subject to change. Just ask Terrell Porter.

The senior was all ready to head to Iowa Central Community College to continue his football career and education this fall.

It was such a done deal that even that the school had received a signed National Junior College Athletic Association Letter of Intent from Porter. That’s exactly why he willingly offered comments about Porter’s ability as a player and his future with the team; college coaches are not supposed to speak about recruits until they’ve signed with a specific institution.

However, a snow day for Berkley High resulted in Porter making a spur-of-the-moment trip Grand Rapids Community College and signing a Letter of Intent that would keep him in Michigan this fall.

“When the snow day happened, (Twait) probably thought that I was sending it,” Porter said. “It was a last-second thing, a last-minute decision. I’m comfortable with my decision. It is what it is.”

Porter is listed on the NJCAA website as signing a Letter of Intent with GRCC for the 2011-12 school year.

Repeated attempts to reach Twait and GRCC head coach Tony Annese about Porter and the situation were unsuccessful.

Porter admits he was ready to go to Iowa Central. He liked the school. He liked the fact that his mother, who lives in Des Moines, would only need to make a short drive to see him play. Most importantly, Porter liked the idea of Iowa Central being a direct line to play for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes after his junior college commitment was completed.

Still, Porter had a change of heart. He phoned his mother and signed the papers … for GRCC.

“When I went out to Iowa Central, I liked everything about it, the way the schooling was set up, how the football team was structured," Porter said. "But when I went to Grand Rapids, it was like I also liked how the school was set up. It seemed like a school set up for me to succeed. Also, I felt comfortable.

“One of the main things about Iowa Central, I liked everything about it, but I did not feel comfortable in the environment at the time. When I went to Grand Rapids, it felt more like a family and that’s what I was used to playing high school football. … I just felt comfortable making my decision to go there. A lot of people have been on me who felt that I made the wrong decision and stuff like that, then again this is not my final decision. This is not my last stop. I can still go out of state. This is not my last stop, that’s all I’m saying.”

Porter said he plans to attend GRCC for the next two years. At that point, he will then send out recruiting tapes and try to make a jump to the NCAA’s Division I level for his final two years of eligibility.

Iowa is still at the top of his dream school list.

“From any junior college, I can still send my highlight tape to any college in the country” after completing two years of community college work, he said. “Iowa will be the first school I send my highlight tape out to.”

However, if the Hawkeyes pass and Michigan State wants Porter in two years, he wouldn’t be disappointed.

Porter rushed for more than 1,200 yards in his sophomore, junior and senior campaigns with the Bears.

“Terrell has been an outstanding player for Berkley Bears football program,” Berkley Athletic Director Ron Kane. “I believe he will excel at the next level, and the program he decides to play for will be lucky to have him both on and off the field.”

Porter scored 32 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,500 yards while helping to lead Berkley to a second-round playoff appearance in 2010.

Porter opted to continue his football career at the community college level while working to improve his academic standings to get to the Division I level.

After school, Porter ultimately dreams of playing for the NFL.

“This whole recruiting process was overwhelming to me,” Porter said. “I just really like to play football. I’ve always dreamed of playing college football regardless of where I’m at.”

GRCC finished the 2010 season 10-2 overall and 7-1 in the Midwest Football Conference. The team ended its season with a 62-53 loss to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in the Mississippi Bowl.

 Berkley teammate Chris Taylor also has signed a letters of intent, according to the NJCAA site.