Hoey has a Big Ten offer

Shoreview (Minn.) Mounds View junior two-way lineman Brandon Hoey (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) has been checking out several college junior days this winter, and Hoey came back from the University of Wisconsin junior day a few weeks back with his first scholarship offer.

"I received an offer from Wisconsin after I made a visit to the junior day event a few weeks ago," Hoey said. "I'm really excited to get an offer from the Badgers. Wisconsin is a great school and also has great coaches, and I'll definitely give Wisconsin a lot of heavy consideration when making my final college choice."

Besides Wisconsin, Hoey has made or is in the process of making several college junior day visits.

"I've been to Northwestern, Wisconsin and Minnesota already for junior day events. I'm heading to Michigan State this weekend, and I'm going to try to check out Nebraska in April."

Hoey talked about what stood out in his earlier visits to Northwestern, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

"Northwestern really had nice facilities, better facilities than I expected to be honest. Northwestern is a very strong school academically, and the coaches also seemed like really good guys. Minnesota also has really good facilities, and they seem like they really treat their players very well. Wisconsin also seems like they treat it's players really well, and I also was impressed with the facilities and the stadium. Wisconsin is a big school yet also has a small school feel to me."

Hoey might also try to check out a few additional schools this spring.

"I throw the shot put and discus in track, so it's going to be tough for me to get out to see a lot of schools, but I might try to see a few college spring practices."