While the media beats Jim Harbaugh like a pinata for pulling the offer of Erik Swenson and rumors swirl about Northwestern as the four-star tackle’s potential landing spot, the Wildcats will welcome a second batch of official visitors this weekend.
If last weekend’s official, with 18 of Northwestern’s 20 commits on hand, was the Rolling Stones playing the Super Bowl, this weekend will be more like a garage band playing a local bar. Just two Wildcat commits, as well as three preferred walkon commits, will visit this weekend.
However, in terms of the scholarship players, the quality makes up for a lack of quantity.
The two commits in Evanston will be four-star cornerback Roderick Campbell and high-three-star running back Jeremy Larkin. Campbell is the lone four-star in the class, while Larkin has a 5.7 Rivals Rating, making him, along with quarterback Aidan Smith, the second-highest ranked commit of the bunch.
Campbell, from St. Louis Chaminade, and Larkin, from Cincinnati LaSalle, couldn’t join their classmates in Evanston last weekend because of a conflict with basketball schedules.
There has been speculation about whether Swenson would also be visiting Northwestern this weekend, but news about his next steps has been scarce. Sources have remained quiet, but it wouldn't be surprising if Swenson won't visit Evanston soon -- if he hasn't already.
As far as the walkons go, a source said that three commits would be visiting. Only one of the three has been identified as of now: wide receiver Jack Tirmonia of Massillon (Ohio) Jackson. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder gave up a scholarship and decommitted from Brown to pledge Northwestern in December. He also had offers from Columbia and Davidson.
Tirmonia, who visited Northwestern for the Penn State game on Nov. 8, caught 44 passes for 645 yards and eight touchdowns for Jackson in 2015. He was named all-district, all-county and all-league, and was a second-team all-Ohio Division I selection.
To Tirmonia, a 4.3 GPA student, the chance to play Big Ten football and get a near-Ivy League education was too good to pass up.
“It took a lot of thought and consideration over the last couple of months,” Tirmonia told CantonRep.com. “But at the end of the day, this is where I think I’ll be the most comfortable and what will be the best opportunity for me. It was a gut-wrenching decision to not go to Brown and tell those coaches there. But I know I made the right decision.”
Tirmonia, whose grandfather played for Woody Hayes at Ohio State, says he is looking forward to his visit. “I am excited for it,” he told WildcatReport.
If last weekend’s official, with 18 of Northwestern’s 20 commits on hand, was the Rolling Stones playing the Super Bowl, this weekend will be more like a garage band playing a local bar. Just two Wildcat commits, as well as three preferred walkon commits, will visit this weekend.
However, in terms of the scholarship players, the quality makes up for a lack of quantity.
The two commits in Evanston will be four-star cornerback Roderick Campbell and high-three-star running back Jeremy Larkin. Campbell is the lone four-star in the class, while Larkin has a 5.7 Rivals Rating, making him, along with quarterback Aidan Smith, the second-highest ranked commit of the bunch.
Campbell, from St. Louis Chaminade, and Larkin, from Cincinnati LaSalle, couldn’t join their classmates in Evanston last weekend because of a conflict with basketball schedules.
There has been speculation about whether Swenson would also be visiting Northwestern this weekend, but news about his next steps has been scarce. Sources have remained quiet, but it wouldn't be surprising if Swenson won't visit Evanston soon -- if he hasn't already.
As far as the walkons go, a source said that three commits would be visiting. Only one of the three has been identified as of now: wide receiver Jack Tirmonia of Massillon (Ohio) Jackson. The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder gave up a scholarship and decommitted from Brown to pledge Northwestern in December. He also had offers from Columbia and Davidson.
Tirmonia, who visited Northwestern for the Penn State game on Nov. 8, caught 44 passes for 645 yards and eight touchdowns for Jackson in 2015. He was named all-district, all-county and all-league, and was a second-team all-Ohio Division I selection.
To Tirmonia, a 4.3 GPA student, the chance to play Big Ten football and get a near-Ivy League education was too good to pass up.
“It took a lot of thought and consideration over the last couple of months,” Tirmonia told CantonRep.com. “But at the end of the day, this is where I think I’ll be the most comfortable and what will be the best opportunity for me. It was a gut-wrenching decision to not go to Brown and tell those coaches there. But I know I made the right decision.”
Tirmonia, whose grandfather played for Woody Hayes at Ohio State, says he is looking forward to his visit. “I am excited for it,” he told WildcatReport.
