Hilliard planning game visits
Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier linebacker Justin Hilliard is one of the most heavily recruited prospects in the Midwest for the 2015 class with 29 scholarship offers to his credit.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Hilliard has already seen many of those schools during the off-season. Now, he is planning to circle back to several campuses for game day visits this fall.
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"Me and my dad are trying to hit up a lot of games," Hilliard said. "He's scheduled eight games, and hopefully we can make it up to five or more of those games."
Among the schools Hilliard has on his tentative list of fall game visits are Arkansas, Michigan, Ohio State, Kentucky, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
"I know we are going to the Notre Dame at Michigan game [Sept. 7]," Hilliard said. "I think the Kentucky-Louisville game [Sept. 14]."
Hilliard's first visit will be this coming weekend to Ohio State. He also has tentative trips set to Arkansas (Sept. 28), Penn State (Oct. 12), Notre Dame (Oct. 19), South Carolina (Nov. 16) and Iowa either the weekend of Sept. 21 or Oct. 5.
Hilliard already visited many of those schools for spring practice or summer unofficial visits. He is looking forward to seeing a different side of the programs when he attends their game weekends.
"I want to see what the players go through, the excitement around the stadium and the campus and the fan base," Hilliard said.
These upcoming visits will also help Hilliard as he looks to zero in on which schools hold the highest interest for him.
"I have a game plan of probably cutting it down during the season to ten or so," he said. "I am probably making my decision late in my junior year or before my senior season."
St. Xavier opens their 2013 campaign this week by hosting Indianapolis Ben Davis. Hilliard is manning an outside linebacker spot for the Bombers.
"I am feeling confident," Hilliard said. "We had a real good scrimmage and we've all be working hard. We're real confident we'll get the win on Friday."