||| RECRUITING Marwede will play tight end in event
Loyola’s Jake Marwede, the SunTimes Player of the Year, will take part in one more game as a highschool player. Marwede is playing in the Under Armour All- America Game on Sunday in Orlando, Florida ( noon, ESPN).
Marwede, a Duke recruit, isn’t the only area athlete to play in a postseason all- star game. St. Viator tight end Cole Kmet, a Notre Dame recruit, will be in the U. S. Army All- American Bowl on Saturday in San Antonio.
Both highly recruited athletes expect to make an impact immediately in college. Marwede, a 6- 5, 213- pound athlete, was a playmaker at receiver, running back and quarterback, but is listed as a tight end for the Under Armour game.
Eric Rooks update
De La Salle receiver Eric Rooks recently added an offer from Navy and has heard from UMass.
“Recruiting is going well,’’ Rooks said. ‘‘ I’m talking to a handful of coaches. The process has been great overall. It’s a long process, but it’s coming to an end soon.’’
The 6- 3, 210- pounder plans to visit several schools in January.
“I’m thinking of going to New Mexico and West Point.”
Recruiting has been a memorable process for Rooks.
“The best part has been meeting coaches and people that you normally just see on television and getting to visit places you have never been before,” Rooks said.
Next for Rooks, who has offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, and Eastern Michigan among others, is to take a step back and get things clear with the coaches recruiting him.
“Just shooting straight with the coaches to see where I am at with them,” Rooks said. “I’ve found that recruiting is really tricky and you really don’t know for sure until you sign your letter of intent.” Letters of intent can be signed on Feb. 1.
TJ Ivy getting interest
Marist junior TJ Ivy, a 6- 5, 217- pound athlete, has landed four offers, most recently from Northern Illinois and Bowling Green.
“I’ve been talking to some big schools and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better,” Ivy said. “I’m always looking to get out to some junior days. Overall I’d say that recruiting is going pretty well.”
Follow me on Twitter @ Beth_ Long.