Hilliard updates visit schedule

Cincinnati (Ohio) St. Xavier class of 2014 running back C.J. Hilliard had looked at two Big Ten games for potential visits this past weekend, but neither was feasible due to his team's weekend showdown with nationally ranked Louisville (Ky.) Trinity.

"I was going to go to the Northwestern game, but I had a conflict with football so I wasn't able to go," Hilliard said.

Early last week, Hilliard was also considering a trip to Michigan State for the Spartans home game against Notre Dame. That did not materialize either, but the junior back continues to have discussions with Michigan State assistant Harlon Barnett about attending a game in East Lansing later this fall.

Hilliard also has a desire to eventually make it up to Evanston for one of the Wildcat's remaining home games.

"Northwestern has been emailing me and telling me to come to a few games," Hilliard said. "I really like Northwestern. They have great academics and the coaches sound down to earth. I just found out they are redoing their athletic facilities and their whole athletic complex. They look like a program on the rise."

The next game visit Hilliard may take could come as soon as this weekend and involves another Big Ten program.

"I was thinking of [attending] the Wisconsin game versus UTEP because they invited me to that one," Hilliard said.

Indiana was the first team to offer Hilliard a scholarship. That came through after the Cincinnati native attended a summer camp in Bloomington this summer, and Hilliard has already made a return visit to see the Hoosiers.

"I went to their first game of the season against Indiana State and that was a pretty nice game," Hilliard said.

St. Xavier dropped their contest with Louisville Trinity by a final of 14-13 this past weekend. The game was not decided until the final minute of play.