With recruiting season in full swing, three of Detroit Catholic Central’s most talented footballers found college landing places in the month of June, all in the Big 10.

Tight end Jack Janda, wide receiver Samson Gash and offensive lineman Benny Eziuka all committed in recent weeks, much to the delight of Shamrocks head coach Justin Cessante.

“Honestly, I think all three (committing) are really gratifying,” said Cessante, fresh off the program’s youth camp that brought in around 250 kids. “They’ve all had their own trials and tribulations to have to prove themselves even beyond the field, their tape, so honestly, I took a lot of gratification in their journey.”

In Janda’s case, the three-star recruit was limited by his ability to put together tape from his junior campaign due to a foot injury, but he had already generated a good deal of interest from high-major programs heading into this summer.

That interest only grew and resulted in his commitment to Wisconsin on June 4, which came just days after an official visit.

“I think obviously with the injury, (Jack) has a whole different gratitude for life and for football,” Cessante said of Janda, who also had Stanford and Michigan state high atop his list. “It’s awesome, and I’m looking forward to seeing his best football ahead of him.”

Just a day before Janda pledged to the Badgers, Eziuka, a three-star recruit (and a four-star by ESPN’s services), tweeted his commitment to Coach James Franklin and Penn State.

Paving the way for CC’s multi-faceted offense, Eziuka had 40 pancake blocks along the line last season, and as a two-way starter, accumulated 23 tackles with an interception on the defensive front.

He held the offer from Penn State, as well as Kentucky and some other MAC programs, then made recent visits to Cincinnati and Stanford before locking in with the Nittany Lions.

“Benny is one of the smartest players we’ve ever had in our program,” Cessante said of Eziuka, who will leave Novi a four-year starter. “(It’s) another one where he identified Penn State as somewhere he wanted to go, built a relationship, and I think that relationship and offer and commitment means something. They spent a lot of time courting each other.”

Also a three-star recruit, Samson Gash, fresh off shattering the state’s 100-meter record at the state track finals, visited Morgantown and held offers from West Virginia and (a recent one) from Alabama before opting for East Lansing and committing to Michigan State on June 24.

“They’ve done a really good job spending a lot of time at our school, whether it’s assistant coaches, defensive coordinator (Joe Rossi), they’ve all been in,” Cessante said of the Spartans staff, which already had locked up multiple Catholic League players from Orchard Lake St. Mary’s in the Class of 2025.

Gash showed off his ability to be a versatile weapon on offense his junior season. On top of 28 carries for 350 yards and eight touchdowns, he hauled in 45 catches for 800 yards and 12 receiving scores as well.

Add in over 500 total yards and a couple of scores in the return game and it’s easy to envision why the Spartans coveted his abilities.

“I think he’s the type of guy you can move around in the offense, whether it’s at slot, outside, running back,” Cessante said. “The one thing people underestimate from him the most is as a return man, a potential kick returner. Samson could be devastating in the Big 10 and do special things with the football. He’s obviously got speed, but he’s smooth. People never think he’s as fast as he is, then he goes and breaks the state record. Numbers don’t lie.”

The next batch of standout Shamrocks might be at the program’s star-studded NFL Stars Youth Football Camp on July 18. Among those slated to appear that evening are alumni Mike Martin, former Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner, longtime Lions star wide receiver Herman Moore, among others.

“We’re doing that camp now for a third year to bring a buzz and energy underneath the lights, get kids to come out and be trained by some of the best who have done it, see CC a little bit and get familiar with them,” Cessante said.