North pledges to the Illini

Hollywood (Fla.) McArthurd safety Nick North took an official visit to Illinois this past weekend. He was impressed enough by what he saw and learned in Champaign that he decided to commit to the Illini on the spot.

"I committed there this weekend," North said. "The reason that I committed is that they have a real good academic program. Their history and their background is real good. They are really coming up as a program."

The 6-foot-2, 198-pound defensive back said the discussion he had with the coaching staff on his visit was crucial in him making his decision.

"I had a great visit up there to Champaign," North said. "When I met Ron Zook, he was telling me that he wants me to come in and make an impact as a freshman. He was mostly talking to me about playing time. Coach Vic (Koenning) was talking to me about some the plays and schemes that they run. He was talking about the defensive backfield and how I fit. Them and Coach (Joe) Gilbert were talking to me about how much they wanted me to come up there and how they had been watching me for a long time."

He went into some specifics of where Coach Koenning and the staff see him fitting in with the defensive secondary.

"They said my position is very weak and they want speed on the field," North said. "I am a real fast guy, a 4.4 guy, so they want that on the field and they want a cover man on the field as well. They said they gave up a lot of big plays this year and they need somebody back there to stop that. I am that guy for them."

During the visit, North was hosted by freshman defensive back Fritz Rock. He said that the Minnesota native gave a good view of what to expect as part of the team.

"He was just telling me that I just have to come in and work hard if I want to play early," North said. "He said that I would have good chemistry with all of the players on and off the field."

While he is now committed, North said the recruiting process is not entirely over for him.

"I am probably still going to take other official visits," North said. "I am planning on visiting TCU in January. That is it for right now, nothing else at the moment."

Even though he intends to see the Horned Frogs and possibly others, the two-star prospect said that he doesn't expect things to change for him between now and Signing Day.

"I am pretty confident that I will be playing my college football at Illinois," North said. "I am a lot confident."

Academically, North claims a 19 on the ACT and expects to be fully qualified.