Goldsberry nearing a decision

Versatile Illinois athlete Owen Goldsberry is nearing a college decision after making a pair of visits this past weekend. First, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Goldsberry was in Iowa City to see the Hawkeyes on Friday and Saturday and then flew to Massachusetts for an official visit to Harvard.

At Iowa, Goldsberry learned more about what it would be like to come in as a preferred walk-on for the Hawkeyes.

“The big highlight of the Iowa visit for me was getting to talk to walk-on safety Jake Gervase,” said Goldsberry. “Just asking him tons of questions was very helpful for me knowing he was basically in my shoes a few years ago.”

A quarterback at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, Goldsberry projects at safety, which is a position where Iowa has had a lot of success with walk-ons in the past.

“I know that if I come in and work hard every day and first crack special teams, things can go up from there,” Goldsberry said.

After leaving Iowa on Saturday, Goldsberry drove back to Chicago and flew out for his official visit to Harvard, which gave him an up-close look at the athletics and academics in the Ivy League.

“I took an official visit to Harvard and was very impressed with all they had to offer through athletics and especially the academic part,” said Goldsberry.

During the recruiting process, Goldsberry has drawn scholarship offers from South Dakota, Illinois State, South Dakota State, North Dakota, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, Indiana State, Youngstown State, and Harvard. He is also considering the walk-on opportunity at Iowa and still talking with Illinois and Northwestern.

“I hope to decide within the next week or so,” Goldsberry said.