QB Funk drawing plenty of interest

Arlington Heights (Ill.) junior quarterback prospect Jared Funk (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) is one of the top returning passers in the Land of Lincoln for 2005. Funk, who will be a three year varsity starter for the Lions and head coach Chris Kirkpatrick, talks about his suitors and more.

"I've been getting mail from several schools," Funk said. "I've also been to junior day events at both Iowa and Northern Illinois."

Funk talked about what stood out on his visit to both Iowa and NIU.

"Iowa to me has a really good mix of rural as well as having a really great town in Iowa City. I liked the campus as well as the facilities. Iowa really has a great stadium as well as a very strong fan base. NIU and head coach Joe Novak put on a very good presentation. I had a chance to talk with the coaches at NIU and they seemed like good guys. I couldn't stay too long at NIU because I had basketball practice later that day, but I came away impressed with some aspects of NIU."

Funk has continued to draw mail and recruiting interest from several schools this off season.

"I'm getting steady mail from Northwestern, Iowa, Michigan State, NIU, Indiana, Wisconsin, Purdue, Boston College as well as mail from several Ivy League schools."

Funk is also starting to make his spring and summer camp plans.

"I'm planning to camp at the Payton Manning camp as well as the Boston College camp this summer. I'm also thinking about camping at Yale, Wisconsin and Iowa. I'm also thinking about going to a few combines this spring."