Hawks add walk-on QB from Illinois

Quarterback Tommy Herion had scholarship offers from New Hampshire and Butler on the table, but when it was time to make a college decision he kept coming back to the University of Iowa. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Herion has a family connection to the school and this week decided to follow his heart and play for the Hawkeyes.

"It's a walk-on opportunity," said Herion. "Iowa is a great school and a great program. Both of my sisters go there and it being close to home was big too."

As a senior at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL, Herion threw for 2,274 yards and 19 touchdowns this past season, leading the team to the Class 8A state title game. That helped draw in FCS offers, but when Iowa came calling with a chance to play in the Big Ten, he says it was an easy decision.

"Coach Brian Ferentz talked to me about walking on and I jumped at the opportunity," Herion said. "The biggest thing for me was being happy at a school even if football doesn't work out. Iowa is definitely that place for me."

See highlights from Herion's senior year at Loyola Academy in the video below.