Carolina athlete enjoys Columbus

Spartanburg (S.C.) athlete Nick Prochak traveled to Columbus, Ohio, last Saturday to take in Ohio State's 40-2 victory against Illinois.

The 6-foot-4, 207-pounder, who was born in Cleveland and grew up a Buckeyes fan, enjoyed the experience.

"They were great," Prochak said. "(Visiting Columbus for a game) is something that I have wanted to do my whole life. I got to talk to all of the coaches and hang out with the team. It was a lot of fun."

Ohio State did not offer Prochak, who plays quarterback for his high school team, when he was visiting.

"They just got my game film," he said. "I think I really just went up there to start getting my name out to them. I started making contacts."

Buckeyes offensive line coach Jim Bollman is recruiting Prochak for Ohio State.

"I talked a lot with him while I was up there," he said.

In-state schools South Carolina and Clemson also have not yet offered Prochak, who has run a consistent 4.6-second 40-yard dash every time he has been timed, but he plans to visit both schools officially.

He said that he is going to talk to his Gamecocks recruiter, outside linebackers coach Ron Cooper tonight and set up an official visit and that he will see the Tigers in January.

"Clemson thinks that I can play about five or six positions for them," he said.

David Blackwell is recruiting for the Tigers.

Vanderbilt and Maryland also have been in contact. Rock Hill, S.C., native Jimmy Kiser is recruiting Prochak for the Commodores.

"He's a really great guy," Prochak said. "He went to Northwestern High, which is about 40-50 miles from Spartanburg. They just picked up a quarterback, so they are looking at me more as an athlete."

While Prochak has led his high school team to an 8-3 record and a playoff berth as a quarterback, he is open to playing another position at the next level.

"It doesn't really matter to me," he said. "I feel comfortable playing quarterback, but I can also play safety. My dad played high school and college football on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive tackle, so I have some bloodlines there. But my older brother played tight end, so I have some bloodlines there."

Prochak is a three-star rated prospect. He was rated the No. 16 overall prospect in the preseason South Carolina top 40.