Heckel hits the rest button
Waukesha (Wisc.) West three-star offensive tackle Sam Heckel was prepared to end his recruitment, but things do not always go as planned.
"Last time we talked I was really high on Northwestern," Heckel commented. "I was actually planning on committing this past Sunday, but I couldn't because they already had their spots filled up. So, I am scrambling and re-evaluating teams again."
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Heckel's offer list includes more than two dozen schools, so he has plenty of options to consider with Northwestern off the table. Several schools have risen to the forefront of his mind since he reset the recruiting process.
"I have been talking to Syracuse a lot and I believe that is a pretty good program," Heckle said. "Virginia too, and there are a couple other schools like Illinois and NIU."
Syracuse has yet to offer and contact with the Orange began only recently, but they immediately struck a chord with Heckel.
"They contacted me about a week ago," Heckel said. "I kind of already had a familiarity with the school because one of my favorite movies growing up was 'The Express.' I liked the school because of that and I liked their basketball team.
"Obviously that doesn't have to do with football, but once I researched more it is a good academic school and their football team is good."
Other options could emerge over the summer and Heckel is considering taking his recruitment into the fall so he can make official visits if necessary.
"I was at Sound Mind Sound Body last weekend," Heckel said. "I talked with some of the coaches that have already offered me and then I talked with a coach from Indiana, Oregon and Michigan State a little bit."
Sound Mind Sound Body is likely the last camp Heckel will attend this summer, but he is looking at taking unofficial visits in the coming months.
"My plan right now is, I think I am going to be visiting NIU this weekend again and Illinois this month," he said. "Hopefully I'll hit Syracuse too and maybe Western Michigan."
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Heckel is ranked as the No. 50 offensive tackle and the No. 4 overall player in the state of Wisconsin for the 2016 class.