Hawkeyes offer in-state TE
In-state tight end T.J. Hockenson has stayed patient as the Iowa Hawkeyes continued to show interest and today it all paid off. The Iowa coaching staff offered the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Chariton native after seeing him up close at their first one-day camp of the summer. We caught up with Hockenson shortly afterwards to get his thoughts on the offer, what comes next in his recruiting, and much more.
Q: Can you kind of take me through your day at Iowa today?
HOCKENSON: Well, we started off the day talking to Coach Morgan after I got out of the car. He came over and told me what was going on and just said to be ready to go and come with a purpose, so that's what I tried to do. We started off with forties and then we went into some one-on-ones with Coach Woods, the tight ends coach, and then we did some blocking and ended the day with a little game they call razzle dazzle. It was awesome. It was a fun day.
Q: When did they tell you about the offer?
HOCKENSON: It was after camp. Coach Morgan kept me after and asked me to come back down to the stadium. I talked to Coach Ferentz for a little while and then talked to Coach Woods and a few of the other coaches. Then they sent me back to the football facility and I went into Coach Ferentz's office and that's when he offered me a scholarship.
Q: What was your initial reaction?
HOCKENSON: I didn't really have the words to say anything. I've been a Hawkeye fan and following the Hawks since I was little, so it was big. I can remember sitting in the stands always wanting to play there. We'll see.
Q: What did they say stood out today or what did you feel like you did well?
HOCKENSON: I mean I caught the ball well. I think I only missed one pass the whole day. They wanted me to block, which isn't my strong suit obviously because I don't usually block in high school, but they put me out there and wanted to see how I'd react to a defensive end and I reacted well and held my own, I thought, so they were really happy and really impressed with the whole day.
Q: Was this your first camp of the summer? What other ones do you have left?
HOCKENSON: This was my second camp of the summer. I went to Wisconsin last week. Now, I'll be at Mizzou on Tuesday, Minnesota on Sunday, and then back to Iowa State next Friday. That's kind of how my month goes.
Q: Is the goal to look at all of your options after that?
HOCKENSON: Yeah, that's the goal. I'm going to weigh out everything and hopefully in the next three or four weeks I'll feel comfortable making a decision and being 100% sure.
Q: Is that sometime in July probably?
HOCKENSON: Yeah, probably late June or early July.
As a junior, Hockenson caught 73 passes for 1,116 yards and 18 touchdowns. He currently holds scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State, and Eastern Michigan.