Interest in Blank picks up

Terre Haute (Ind.) North tight end Calvin Blank has been sitting on three offers from Northern Illinois, Ball State and Indiana State for the last couple months, but his list could grow in the near future if the recent interest from schools is any indication.

Since the Spring Evaluation Period began in April, Blank's coach has spent time with Minnesota, Indiana, Purdue, Army and Miami of Ohio coaches that have come through the school.

"He said Minnesota really liked me a lot and they were going to get back with me," Blank said. "More people are coming in to offer tomorrow - Bowling Green and Western Michigan.

"Most of the Big Ten schools and BCS Conference schools want me to come to camp so they can get a look at me."

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Blank does hold offers from Northern Illinois, Ball State and Indiana State. He plans to attend a June 8 camp at Northwestern and a June 11 camp at Iowa.

Blank is also a standout on the basketball court, though the vast majority of his college interest has come for football. Despite spending a lot of time in recent months working on basketball, Blank did find time to visit Big Ten programs Indiana and Northwestern, and also make a trip down to see an SEC school.

"I went to Vanderbilt for spring practice," Blank said. "I thought it was awesome. I haven't really been around an SEC program and it was just a different culture. I liked the school a lot and the team seemed close knit, but they got after each other. James Franklin pushed them hard, but afterwards he was good with them. It seems like they have good relationships with coaches and players."

Next month Blank's focus will turn more towards football than basketball, but the rising senior still would like to win a state championship on the hardcourt next winter and is not putting his basketball ambitions to the side just yet.