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  "path": "/high-school-football/2026/04/05/safety-darrell-mattison-keeps-up-morgan-parks-tradition-of-talented-defensive-backs-wide-receivers",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-05T22:17:19.765Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>As Morgan Park has built the Public League’s top football program, the foundation of the Mustangs’ success has rested on two complementary position groups.</p><p>Every year, Morgan Park sends defensive backs and wide receivers to some of the nation’s elite college programs.</p><p>The latest addition to that group is safety Darrell Mattison, a consensus four-star prospect who recently committed to Michigan in the 2027 recruiting cycle. The 6-2, 160-pounder follows in the footsteps of recent Mustangs stars such as Nasir Rankin, Tysean Griffin and Jahmere Washington.</p><p>One of the things Mattison learned from his predecessors is the importance of having a short memory.</p><p>“On defense, you’re going to get beat, mess up,” he said. “You’ve got to bounce back.”</p><p>Originally a basketball player, Mattison said he started playing football when he was 8 or 9. Around middle school, he realized football was where his heart was.</p><p>He started out at Morgan Park playing offense. Last year, he shifted to playing mostly defense and also was explosive on special teams with several kick returns for TDs.</p><p>Coach Chris James wasn’t surprised to see Mattison’s recruiting blow up.</p><p>“We [saw] this coming,” James said. “We knew he had ball skills and he was athletic.”</p><p>Plus, James added, “Darrell had the work ethic to work on his game.”</p><p>Mattison holds more than a dozen Power Four offers, including Indiana, Illinois and eight others from the Big Ten as well as Missouri, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt from the SEC.</p><p>Michigan entered the picture in January and rose to the top of his list.</p><p>“It was just showing real, genuine love,” he said.</p><p>Mattison plans to graduate after the first semester and head to Ann Arbor for spring practice in 2027. He appreciates finding such a high-profile landing spot as a high school player in the portal era, especially this early in the recruiting cycle.</p><p>“It takes some weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I’m so happy and excited to get in there and get the work in.”</p><p>The prospect of playing in front of more than 100,000 fans at Michigan Stadium is something he’s still getting his head around.</p><p>“It all feels like a dream now till I get on the field,” he said.</p><p>Before that happens, Mattison is looking forward to his senior year at Morgan Park.</p><p>“It’s definitely one of the best teams we’ve had,” he said. “It’s a family.”</p><h3>Cole’s a Cougar</h3><p>Chicago State’s fledgling program added a prominent Public League recruit recently in Lane running back Vernon Cole.</p><p>Despite being limited to six games because of injury last fall, Cole had 1,247 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns for the Champions.</p><p>Chicago State opens its inaugural season as an FCS independent Aug. 29, when it hosts -Division II Roosevelt at SeatGeek Stadium.<br></p>",
  "title": "Safety Darrell Mattison keeps up Morgan Park’s tradition of talented defensive backs, wide receivers",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-05T22:17:19.765Z"
}