Hitchens gets the offer

Ohio prospect Anthony Hitchens had some early scholarship offers, but was waiting to see what the Iowa Hawkeyes would do before making his college decision. Today, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Hitchens saw his patience finally pay off as the Iowa coaching staff was in contact with some big news.

"Iowa offered today," said Hitchens. "I'm going there for an official visit on Friday."

During the season, Hitchens was looking over offers from Kansas, Indiana, Eastern Michigan, and Akron, but it was a visit to Iowa City in October that really caught his eye The two-star prospect watched the Hawkeyes beat Indiana 42-24 in Kinnick Stadium and has been waiting on an offer ever since.

"I wasn't really sure if I was going to get it, so I was excited," Hitchens said. "I was kind of shocked at first because they said they were going to call me later this week, so it was a little sooner than I thought."

Throughout his career, Hitchens has produced on both sides of the ball at Lorain's Clearview High School. As a senior, he earned county player of the year honors after rushing for 1,428 yards and 21 touchdowns and finished with 76 tackles and a pair of interceptions on defense as well. While some schools, including Kansas, recruited the Ohio native as a running back, the Hawkeyes see him as a strong safety in college.

"It doesn't matter to me. I just want to play," said Hitchens. "With my tackling ability and the way I can read and react to the ball, I think I can be a good safety in college too."

With just two weeks until signing day, decision time was quickly approaching for Hitchens regardless, but now that he has the Iowa offer in hand, he may have his mind made up by this weekend.

"Now that I've got the scholarship offer from Iowa, I'm pretty much going to take it," Hitchens said. "If everything checks out when I get down there, then I'll probably commit this weekend. I just think it's the best fit for me."

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