Lots of local talent in play as Illinois State visits Northwestern

As a college football recruit, Mike Zimmer has no ill feelings about how he was treated by Northwestern.

But that doesn't mean there won't be some added motivation from the sophomore starting linebacker from Wheeling High School when Illinois State hits Ryan Field for Saturday's 11 a.m. game with Northwestern in Evanston.

"They were great with me in the recruiting process but it just didn't work out," said Zimmer, who was asked to come to Northwestern as a walk-on and didn't get a scholarship offer. "But you get a little extra chip on your shoulder and you want to prove whatever decision they made was the wrong one."

Zimmer won't be the only local product with those emotions when Illinois State and Northwestern play for the first time. Zimmer's former Wheeling teammate Nick Bledsoe and senior Chris Riley (Warren) start on the offensive line.

The Wildcats also have a roster featuring several former prep stars from the Daily Herald area, such as OL Colin Armstrong (Benet Academy), OL Neal Deiters (York), DL Jack DiNardo (Hinsdale Central), CB James Kurzawski (Loyola Academy), OL Brian Mulroe (Loyola Academy), long snapper John Henry Pace (Hinsdale Central), OL Chuck Porcelli (Montini), DL Kevin Watt (Glenbard West), as well as some freshmen and redshirt freshmen.

For ISU, linebacker Mike Hiestand (Carmel), tight end Jordan Neukirch (Huntley) and receiver Matt Mose (Warren) also played in the wild 55-54 opening win over Central Missouri State.

That victory, however, wasn't so thrilling for Zimmer since he was on the defensive side. It doesn't get easier Saturday against the Wildcats and quarterback Dan Persa.

Zimmer said the transition from Wheeling to playing at Illinois State as a true freshman last year wasn't easy, either. But he wound up starting five of the nine games he played and had 4 tackles for loss as he made the all-Missouri Valley Football Conference newcomer team.

And now Zimmer and his teammates hope to make a big-time statement Saturday.

"It's so nice to be able to come home and have all of my family come there," Zimmer said. "Everyone is really pumped up to play a Big Ten opponent and play in that kind of atmosphere. We're really ready for the opportunity to compete against them."