South River's Strange Headed to Monmouth University

After hauling in a county-record 13 touchdowns and 1,100 receiving yards, senior Mike Strange had some big decisions ahead of him.

Towson, Old Dominion, New Hampshire and several other schools pursued the 6-foot, 4-inch, 195-pound wide receiver to play football, but Strange chose Monmouth University.

Wednesday is national signing day for football recruits throughout the country, but Strange didn’t wait until Wednesday to make his announcement. South River’s head football coach Lance Clelland told Patch Strange made the decision more than a week ago.

A first-team All-Capital selection and team captain, Strange led the squad to a 6-5 record, earning the Seahawks their first playoff appearance since 2005, Clelland said.

While some football stars throughout the county deliberate on which school to choose, Strange said Monmouth University immediately struck a chord with him.

“I got this big feeling when I walked on campus," Strange said. "The staff was great. I loved it and everything fit. There was no doubt in my mind I wanted to be there for four years.”

Strange said he received an athletic scholarship that will cover fees, books and tuition.

David Coffin, a previous teammate of Strange’s at South River, hosted the wide receiver when he visited Monmouth. The experience helped lead Strange to choosing the private university in New Jersey.

“I’m looking forward to practicing with the team and one of my former teammates [Coffin],” Strange said. “I’m not really going into the season with any expectation but I’m going in with high hopes.”