Busy spring ahead for Stringer

Crete-Monee (Ill.) High has produced Rivals100 prospects in back-to-back years. The next big prospect out of the school is 6-foot-4, 210-pound class of 2015 safety Omari Stringer.

"Right now I have two offers from Western Michigan and Toledo," Stringer reported. "There's a high possibility NIU is going to offer me this Friday when I go on a visit."

Beyond the schools that have offered, Stringer is drawing interest from a host of Big Ten schools and plans to reciprocate with visits this spring.

"The following weeks I am going to Iowa, Illinois, Penn State, Wisconsin and Indiana," Stringer said. "I think April 10 I am going to Iowa."

Iowa started conversations with Stringer just recently, but already the Chicagoland prospect has a high opinion of the Hawkeyes.

"My family really likes Iowa," Stringer said. "The stability of the coaching staff - they have been there 15 years - and it has been awhile since they had a losing season. Academically they have an 81 percent graduation rate of their athletes and overall it's just a great place to be."

Prior to his Big Ten trips, though, Stringer will visit one of the schools that has offered - for the second time in as many weekends.

"Saturday morning I am going to go to Western Michigan and hang out with Coach [P.J.] Fleck. "Last week my auntie and uncle went because my mom couldn't go. They got to meet Coach Fleck, see the facilities and pretty much got to see what they were all about. Since my mom missed it, that's why we are going back so she can get a feel for what [Fleck] is trying to do."

Where Stringer will play his college ball is not the only question facing the jumbo defensive back as he looks ahead to college. His size also brings up a debate as to which position he best projects to.

"A lot of college coaches just say I am a freak athlete who can play whatever," Stringer said. "They don't know how much bigger I am going to get. Some say they don't have a problem playing a 6-4 guy playing safety."

Crete-Monee has played Stringer at several positions on the field over the last two years, though he played primarily safety in the Warrior's state title season of 2012.