OLB Hogans chooses NIU
Palatine (Ill.) senior outside linebacker recruit Cortez Hogans (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) decided to end his recruiting process tonight and gave NIU and head coach Rod Carey his verbal commitment.
"I was ready to I gave NIU my commitment," Hogans said. "I just really like everything that NIU has to offer. I looked hard at a few other schools but in the end NIU just fit me the best."
Hogans discussed why he decided to end his recruiting process and pledge to the NIU Huskies.
"NIU just has a lot to offer. I really like all of the coaches at NIU. They all seem like good guys and guys who can help me grow and develop. NIU is also close to home and my family and friends can get to see me play in college. I was also really impressed at how hard they work at NIU. I was able to go see a few practices in person and they just really go hard and get after it every day. NIU also offers strong academics and everything just seemed to come together for me at NIU."
Hogans admitted that he looked at a few other schools before making his decision this evening.
"I looked hard at North Dakota State and also Central Michigan. It really had very little to do with location to be honest. It was just that NIU offers me the best possible fit on and off the field. Distance was really never a big factor for me and if I was able to find a great fit far away from home I was ready to go. It just is a nice benefit that I'll be closer to home with NIU."
Hogans is also happy and relieved to have his recruiting process completed.
"I'm very happy to have made my decision. It was starting to become harder and harder to figure it all out. The hardest part of the process is just having to make a decision. You end up building relationships with a lot of good people, then you have to tell them no in the end. That was harder to do than I expected."
Hogans is now the seventh known in-state verbal commitment to the NIU Huskies Class of 2018. Hogans joins Andrew defensive end Mike DeHaan, Decatur MacArthur wide receiver Amir Brummett, Rich Central wide receiver Jyran Mitchell, Plainfield East defensive end Jack Sullivan, Phillips defensive tackle Queneil Morrison and Maine South running back Fotis Kokosioulis.
Cortez Hogans is verbally committed to NIU.