Tears pledges to NIU

Oak Lawn (Ill.) Richards senior three star ranked wide receiver recruit Spencer Tears (6-foot-1, 171 pounds) gave NIU and head coach Rod Carey his verbal commitment today on his official visit. Tears talks about his decision here.

"I had a great official visit this weekend and I gave NIU my commitment," Tears said. "I just feel so at ease and comfortable with the coaches and the players and really the entire school. I knew this morning I was ready to make my decision."

Tears talked about why he pledged to the in-state NIU Huskies.

"NIU just has everything I'm looking for in a school. It's a good situation for me on and off the field. NIU offers a great football program, a winning football program and tradition. I also know that I'll be able to get a good degree along with a lot of academic support at NIU. I've been to NIU a bunch of times and it just feels like the place for me. I was able to really get to know the coaches and the players this weekend along with the other recruits. I just wanted to stay and get ready with them for the Bowl Game."

Tears also is excited to get a chance to play closer to home in DeKalb.

"I never really thought about staying closer to home but the more I looked at it all the more I wanted to stay closer to home. My Mom came with me on the visit and she was also really sold on NIU. She is really happy for me and now my family and friends can come see me play in college. My Mom actually cried when I told her because she was so excited for me and also excited about NIU."

Tears joins a growing NIU Huskies in-state recruiting class loaded with talent.

"I really liked the guys already committed to NIU and I had a blast with them this weekend. It's a great class and I'm just excited to be a part of that class."

Tears is the fifth known in-state commitment to the Huskies Class of 2015, joining Geneva QB Daniel Santacaterina, Champaign Centennial wide receiver Steven Lee, Bloom Township linebacker Kyle Pugh plus Brother Rice running back Marcus Jones.

Spencer Tears is verbally committed to Northern Illinois University.