Ben Davis LB Asmar Bilal has more than 20 scholarship offers
Ben Davis football coach Mike Kirschner hears many compliments about linebacker Asmar Bilal, one of the premier players in the state.
The best one came from a fellow teacher who said Bilal is epitome of what a student-athlete should be. She relayed a story of how she was about to pick up a piece of trash in the hallway and Bilal said "No, ma'am I'll get it."
That's Bilal, Kirschner said. He is always trying to do the right thing on and off the field. The hotly recruited inside linebacker has 4.2 grade point average on 4.0 scale.
"He takes Advanced Placement classes," Kirschner said. "Some of it doesn't come easily to him, but he works really hard at it. He's a good student."
Bilal's football and academic abilities attracted more than 20 scholarship offers, including five Southeastern Conference offers (Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt) and one from Pac-12 power Oregon.
Kirschner said the attention has never gone to Bilal's head.
"He's very humble," Kirschner said.
Bilal said his top two choices now are Notre Dame and Michigan. He likes the fact both schools have strong traditions academically as well as on the football field.
Bilal, a four-star recruit, is rated as the No. 2 player in the class of 2015 in Indiana by 247Sports and the No. 3 player in the state by Rivals.com. He is rated as the No. 3 inside linebacker nationally in his class by 247Sports.
Bilal didn't start for the Giants until last season and didn't have an offer until after the season.
"I figured once he started getting offers, there would be a snowball effect and there was," Kirschner said. "He has a knack for the ball. He makes plays."
Steve Wiltfong, 247Sports.com's national recruiting analyst based in the Indianapolis area, was surprised it too so long for the offers to land.
"The (game) tape speaks and the transcript speaks. He's the total package," Wiltfong said. "He's a guy that has a lot of physical upside in my opinion. He's an athletic, physical player that is around the football. He's also really smart."
Kirschner said the 6-3 Bilal was in the linebacker rotation as a sophomore but was playing behind two experienced linebackers.
"Plus he was just 180 pounds as a sophomore," Kirschner said. "He needed to get bigger and stronger. He benches 350 pounds so he's a real strong kid. He needed to take some time to physically develop."
Bilal weighs 205 pounds now and would like to add five pounds.
"I know I'll put on more weight after the season. I always do," Bilal said. "Basically I just want to get stronger and faster. I've been working on my blitzes a little bit."
"There's always room for improvement. I'm working on my reads, my effort, my work ethic. Just running to the ball and being a leader."
Kirschner said Bilal will be considered one of the Giants' top all-time players when he graduates.
"I never really looked at me being up there on the list of great defensive players here," Bilal said. "If I fit that spot, it's great to think people think I belong up there."
Bilal and Andrean linebacker Josh Barajas, a Notre Dame commit, have been invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio in January.
Bilal is the fourth Ben Davis player to be selected for the game. The others are quarterback James Banks (2002 game), quarterback MarQueis Gray (2007) and safety Antonio Allen (2013).
Call Star reporter Mark Ambrogi at (317) 444-6047. Follow him on Twitter: @mark_ambrogi
CLASS OF 2015
State rankings by 247Sports
Name, position, high school, college choice
1. Josh Barajas, LB, Andrean, Notre Dame
2. Asmar Bilal, LB, Ben Davis, Undecided
3. Darrin Kirkland, Jr., LB, Lawrence Central, Michigan
4. Brandon Tiassum, DT, Park Tudor, Notre Dame
5. Justin Tranquill, S, Carroll (Fort Wayne), Undecided
6. Tommy Stevens, QB, Decatur Central, Indiana
7. LeVante Bellamy, RB, Brebeuf Jesuit, Undecided
8. Adam Solomon, OL, Bishop Chatard, Illinois
9. Jared Thomas, OL, Cathedral, Northwestern
10. Matt McCann, OL, Bishop, Chatard Purdue
11. Mykelti Williams, S, Warren Central, Undecided
12. Brandon Knight, OL, Noblesville, Indiana
13. Isaac James, ATH, Carmel, Undecided
14. Jacob Robinson, DE, Westfield, Indiana
15. Markell Jones, RB, Columbus, East Purdue
*16. Evan Mallory, OL, IMG Academy (Fla.), Undecided
17. Eric Whitehead, DL, Lawrence Central, Virginia Tech
18. Dan Werner, TE, Mount Vernon, Undecided
19. Quentin Moon, LB, Pike, Undecided
20. Joe Belden, DE, Avon, Indiana
21. James Gilbert, RB, Lawrence Central, Ball State
22. Tirone Young, RB, Warren Central, Undecided
23. Riley Neal, QB, Yorktown, Ball State
24. Norman Oglesby, DT, Ben Davis, Cincinnati
25. Clayton Cook, WR, Wawasee, Ball State
*Former Brownsburg player