Mendenhall enjoys visit and new coach

Skokie, Ill. four star ranked running back prospect Rashard Mendenhall (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) from Niles West High School made his official visit to the University of Illinois this weekend. Mendenhall talks about his impressions of new Fighting Illini head coach Ron Zook and more in this latest update.

“My official visit to Illinois was cool," Mendenhall said. “It was good to get a chance to talk with Coach Zook and it was also a really good visit as well."

Mendenhall, who gave the University of Illinois his verbal commitment well over a year ago, is still rock solid on the Illini and will graduate from high school in December and will enroll at Illinois for the spring semester.

"My brother (Walter) was my host all weekend long, and it was good to spend some time with him. Friday we had dinner with the other recruits and the coaches and players. We also had a chance on Friday night to just hang with the players and that was fun Saturday I had a chance to talk at length with Coach Zook as well as tour the facilities. We also went to dinner again on Saturday night and we did some damage at the table on Saturday night. Sunday we met with the coaches again at breakfast and got everything squared away."

"For me, getting a chance to talk with Coach Zook was the biggest thing about this visit. I really like his personality as well as his enthusiasm. He's just a very upbeat guy and I'm even more excited now about playing for the Illini."

In the meantime, it's preparing for final exams as well as getting ready for the US Army All American Bowl game in January.

"It still really hasn't hit me yet, graduating from high school in two weeks. I'm sure as we get closer it will hit me more. I'm just excited to get down to Champaign and to start getting ready for my freshman season. I'm also excited about playing in the All American Bowl. I just hope I can represent well in that game."

Mendenhall then reiterated his recruiting status with the Illini.

"No question I'm still a solid verbal commit to the University of Illinois."