First offer comes for LB Ascolese
Offer No. 1 has come in for North Bergen, N.J. outside linebacker Vin Ascolese. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder had been waiting for an offer for months and it finally came on Sunday.
"It happened earlier this afternoon," he said. "I talked to Coach Gillhamer. He said he absolutely loved the way I play and my toughness and thinks I'll fit in perfectly at their school.
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"He knows that my recruiting process started late, but wanted to be the first one to pull the trigger on me."
The news couldn't have been better for Ascolese.
"That's huge, that's a big solid offer and for your first offer to be from them, that's huge," he said. "It's a big day and I'm just lucky enough to get one."
Does he know anything about the Illini?
"I know they are tough as nails and always a contender every year, they are a really good academic school too," he said. "I am going to go there this summer, probably in July."
In the meantime, Ascolese is working to get other schools interested.
"I just made my coverage tape and I'm going to be sending that out this week, that should push some teams over the top and it'll show me covering players and get them everything they need."
The linebacker is planning to hit the camp circuit as well.
"I'll definitely go to some camps," he said. "I've got to talk to my grandpa, but Virginia Tech will be sometime in June or July."
With one offer in and more colleges interested, what does he want in a school?
"I just want free tuition and a coaching staff that really likes me," he said. "I'm looking for a great coaching staff that cares and wants to win. I want great tradition, atmosphere and academic support."