‘Edgy’ Tim: Geneva’s Peterson, ICCP’s Shaw make commitments
Geneva junior quarterback Ben Peterson (6-foot-4, 205 pounds) recently gave Eastern Michigan University his verbal commitment.
“We had the Eastern Michigan coaches here for an in-home visit a few nights ago for dinner,” Peterson said. “I had been thinking pretty much all about EMU ever since I made a spring visit. Eastern Michigan has been the team to beat for me ever since that visit.”
So what are the EMU fans getting in Ben Peterson?
“Eastern Michigan is getting someone who is a hard worker and who will grind day in and day out,” he said. “I’m now one of the leaders on the team and also a leader in this recruiting class. It’s my job to go out and help us bring in more great players.”
ICCP’s Shaw commits to NIU
IC Catholic Prep junior defensive tackle Joshua Shaw Jr. (6-3, 300 pounds) gave Northern Illinois University his verbal commitment. Shaw Jr., who added the NIU offer a few weeks ago, broke down his college decision.
“I was able to give everything some serious thought over the last week or so,” Shaw Jr. said. “My spring visit to NIU was great and it’s such a comfortable feeling to have found the right place for me. I feel great about my commitment to NIU and so does my family.”
Shaw Jr. discussed why he decided to give NIU his early commitment.
“The coaches at NIU are genuine people who have been making me feel wanted and … a priority for them,” he said. “Coach (Rob) Harley and the entire coaching staff just work so well together and are just great guys and the type of coaches I want to play for in college. NIU already does a great job of development and I feel they can help me get to where I want to go in college then after college. NIU is also pretty close to home. Distance wasn't really a thing for me and, honestly, early on I wanted to leave the state. It just worked out that the school I decided on happens to be close to home. NIU recruited me as a defensive tackle.”
Prescott’s recruiting stock rising
Batavia junior tight end Thomas Prescott (6-4, 220 pounds) has continued to see his recruiting stock rise this spring. Prescott is juggling baseball season along with his football training.
“I have 10 scholarship offers so far from New Mexico, NIU, Cornell, Kent State, Western Illinois, Yale, Penn, Coastal Carolina, South Dakota and Southern Illinois,” he said. “I was also able to make spring visits to Michigan State, Coastal Carolina, Kent State, North Dakota, NIU and also SIU. The visits this spring overall went well.”
Does he have any summer camp plans?
“I don’t have anything set up yet and I’m trying to sort things out soon,” he said. “I've gotten camp invites from schools like Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Indiana. Indiana is one camp I might attend, and once I get a better idea I’ll set up at least a handful of camps.”
Prescott has a time frame in mind for a college decision.
“I’m looking at making a decision over the next few months,” he said. “I want to have it all done well before my senior season. I’m looking for a school that has a winning tradition and a great team culture and environment. I’m also looking for a school that can develop me on and off the field and go to a school that has a plan for me.”