Detroit, MI
Catholic Central’s Samson Gash on Michigan State commitment: ‘Who knows?’
Detroit ― Samson Gash was clutching onto the Division 1 state championship trophy following a dominating performance by Detroit Catholic Central on Sunday night at Ford Field.
Now, following Catholic Central’s 42-19 victory over Detroit Cass Tech in Gash’s high-school finale, will he be letting go of his verbal commitment to Michigan State following the firing of head coach Jonathan Smith earlier Sunday?
Gash, the top-ranked receiver in the state, acknowledged his phone was blowing up before Sunday’s title game, and he had to put it on “mute” to focus on the task at hand. But he also acknowledged he has some decisions to make.
“It’s kind of hard, because there’s a lot of schools that’ve been texting me now that they think I’m back on the market,” Gash told The Detroit News on Sunday night. “It’s been tough, like, trying to think about the decision, but I’m just trying to postpone that till after the season and just have fun with my guys.
“And I’ll make that decision after the season.”
So, is he back on the market?
“I’d say I’m looking around for sure,” said Gash, whose older brother, Caleb, is a defensive back at Michigan State.
Smith was fired Sunday afternoon, following two seasons at Michigan State, and a 9-15 record, 4-14 in the Big Ten. A new coach, likely former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald, will get to pick his own staff, and Gash said he’s paying attention on that front ― specifically receivers coach Courtney Hawkins, Gash’ lead recruiter.
“He’s been on me forever,” Gash said. “I love that dude and hopefully he stays.”
Hawkins has been on Michigan State’s staff through the past three head coaches, Mel Tucker, interim head coach Harlon Barnett, and Smith.
Gash, who had five catches for 25 yards and an electric 48-yard punt return in Sunday’s win over Cass Tech, committed to Michigan State in June. He’s one of two four-star recruits who committed to Smith for 2026, along with Arizona offensive tackle Collin Campbell, with the first day of the early signing period Wednesday. MSU had 20 commitments as of Saturday.
Gash did recently take a visit to Alabama, as his stock has risen recently. Speed is a big reason why. He’s the state’s reigning 100-meter champion. He said Sunday he plans to defend his track title in the spring. That’s a no-brainer, even if he fancies himself a football player who runs track, not the other way around. More up in the air, his college choice.
“(There’s) a lot of uncertainty at Michigan State,” said Gash, who’s a strong candidate for Mr. Football in Michigan, along with his marquee-matchup opponent Sunday, Cass Tech receiver/defensive back Corey Sadler Jr., who’s committed to North Carolina. “I’m gonna see how everything plays out, and who knows?”
Gash and younger brother Gideon Gash, a junior who had a monster game in the state championship game with three receiving touchdowns, are the sons of former Penn State player, Super Bowl winner and Lions assistant coach Sam Gash. One other brother, Isaiah Gash, was a running back at Michigan.
tpaul@detroitnews.com
@tonypaul1984
Chickens and geese that went missing from a local nonprofit’s Detroit site were found in the backyard of a nearby home, the director of operations said Wednesday.
The Full Circle Foundation, a Grosse Point Park-based nonprofit, said more than a dozen chickens and geese were believed stolen from a chicken coop on Detroit’s east side that also features the Full Circle Edible Garden.
The nonprofit provides training and job opportunities for young people with special needs.
Neighbors who learned from news reports about the missing flock found the “chickens were being held in the backyard of a vacant home not far from the Full Circle Edible Garden,” said Stephanie DiVirgil, director of operations. She said Ribbon Farm 4-H owns the flock.
“The homeowner was contacted, and she reached out to Full Circle to confirm,” said DiVirgil. “We were able to retrieve all of the chickens and geese that were found on the property, 19 in total.”
The foundation and Ribbon Farms 4-H are working to secure the site, including cameras, fencing and lights.
“We will likely start a fundraising campaign to have these items installed,” DiVirgil said. “We’ve gotten amazing support from the community, including offers to help pay for these additional security measures.”
DETROIT (WXYZ) — Human remains were found in a furnace of an home on Detroit’s west side, the Detroit Police Department tells us.
The remains was found by an individual working on the home in the 5200 block of S Clarendon just after 11 a.m.
Anyone with information can call 313-596-2260 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-SpeakUp.
Stay with WXYZ.com for updates on this developing story.
The Detroit Police Department is investigating after a 5-year-old child was shot in the arm near a park on Tuesday.
The shooting happened at about 8:50 p.m. near the Fargo-Oaklfield Playground on the city’s west side. Police Chief Todd Bettison says the child was in front of his home riding a bike with his father supervising at the time of the shooting.
Bettison says an individual at the park fired multiple shots, striking the child. He says the boy’s father reported hearing shots and the child falling from his bike.
Bettison says the child is expected to be OK.
Bettison says the person appears to have been firing shots randomly, which he calls “problematic.” He says a person of interest is described as possibly between 15 and 16 years old and wearing a mask. He says the person is known to frequent the area.
“When you fire a weapon, what goes up must go down,” Bettison said. “To parents and everyone, know where your kids are. Juveniles should not have guns, and whether you’re an adult or a child, you should not be firing a weapon inside of the city limits.”
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield released a statement, saying in part, “By the grace of God, this young boy will recover from his injury and is on his way home from the hospital. With that said, this incident was senseless and could have had a much more tragic ending.
“Every child in Detroit deserves to feel safe riding their bike, playing outside, and simply being a child in their own neighborhood. We cannot accept a reality where our children are placed in harm’s way because someone chose to recklessly fire a gun.”
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-Speak Up.
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