Louisiana quarterback holding three offers

In recent years, Louisiana has produced highly touted quarterbacks such as Jordan Jefferson, Terrance Broadway, Munchie Legaux and Taylor Burch. In the class of 2011, another quarterback looks to be on the rise to continue the tradition in Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic's Zack Oliver.

Recently, Oliver picked up his first scholarship offer out of the Big Ten's Northwestern.

"It probably came about three weeks ago," Oliver said. "I had been talking to them a little bit and then they said they wanted to see me on a visit. It was kind of unexpected. I thought they were going to want to see me in person but they offered anyway."

Clearly the Wildcat staff felt like it didn't need any more time to wait as it had seen all it needed on film. Oliver has gotten some rave reviews on Northwestern as well. His friend Collin Ellis out of Baton Rouge (La.) Dunham was a part of Northwestern's 2010 signing class.

"He speaks very highly of it," said the junior. "He's visited about five times. He said the coaches and the campus are great. Other than him, I don't really know much about them. I watched them in the Outback Bowl against Auburn and that was a great game."

Oliver hopes to see more of the campus and the program first hand when he plans to visit Evansville during his last week of spring break in April. He also plans on taking a visit to the home-town program of LSU. That visit will come this weekend.

"I'm talking to LSU," he said. "I'm going to their junior day on Saturday. Oregon State said that they're really interested and they want to see me in the spring before they offer but they said they're interested."

A couple of other schools have shown more than just interest. Recently Oliver picked up offers from Tulsa and Arkansas State to add to his Northwestern offer.

As he starts to accumulate options, Oliver is also starting to determine some of the deciding factors in his college selection.

"The first thing will probably be the academics of the school because I have to think about what I'm doing after football. I would say the program, the type of offense they run - pro-style or spread - is important. And location, not necessarily proximity to home but just being able to see myself there for the next four years."

With his preference for a spread or pro-style offense, Oliver just wants to throw the football. Judging from his junior year, that is something that he does quite well. In 2009, Oliver passed for 2,525 yards and 32 touchdowns with only five interceptions. He also added five touchdowns rushing.