Pierschbacher says visits can wait
If Iowa commit Ross Pierschbacher is going to visit any other schools, it is not going to happen until after the season. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman plans to stay home this summer and focus on his team and his senior year at Cedar Falls High School. We caught up with Pierschbacher to talk about his plans, some of the new offers that he has added recently, his visit to Iowa's spring game last weekend, and much more.
Q: What was it like going down to Iowa's spring game on Saturday?
PIERSCHBACHER: It was good getting back down there. It was nice seeing how they've been working and just how they're doing as a team.
Q: Did you get to talk to the coaches while you were there? What were those conversations like?
PIERSCHBACHER: Yeah, I did. It's just friendly. We're just very comfortable around each other, so really just catching up and seeing how things are going.
Q: Tell me about the new offers you received this week.
PIERSCHBACHER: Well, USC offered yesterday and Auburn offered a little while ago, I just didn't say anything about it until this week. Auburn was actually the same day that Alabama offered.
Q: What is your reaction at this point when you get a new offer like that? Are you just used to it now or is it still a pretty big deal?
PIERSCHBACHER: I don't really think too much about it. It's nice to just say I've been offered by whoever, but at this point I don't get too riled up by it.
Q: Is USC one of the schools you might want to visit at some point?
PIERSCHBACHER: I don't know. I have no idea yet with everything. I'm just going to kind of wait and see how the college football season goes and I think that will tell me a little bit more about where I'm at.
Q: As far as with Iowa and how they do this season?
PIERSCHBACHER: Just everything really.
Q: So no visits this summer?
PIERSCHBACHER: No, I don't think so.
Q: If you do make them, it would be official visits after the season?
PIERSCHBACHER: Yeah.
Q: Have you talked with the Iowa coaches much about that, taking other visits?
PIERSCHBACHER: No, not really, but I think Coach Ferentz does his research on recruits and the news going around, so I'm sure it wouldn't shock him if I took a visit or whatever.
Q: But it's not something they have talked to you about much at this point?
PIERSCHBACHER: No, not really, but just whatever happens.
Q: Are you doing any camps or combines this spring or summer?
PIERSCHBACHER: No, I decided not to. I'm going to be gone some fishing and just kind of want to stay at home and focus on hopefully going for a state championship this year.
Q: You were selected to play in the Under Armour Game recently right?
PIERSCHBACHER: Yep.
Q: What did that mean to you to get selected for that?
PIERSCHBACHER: It feels good just knowing that you're going to be going up against the best. It should be a great experience and one I'll probably remember the rest of my life. I'm excited about it.
Q: What else are you up to this spring, throwing in track and workouts mostly?
PIERSCHBACHER: Basically, yeah. We've got about three weeks left in track and I've been working out when I can, but I'm going to dwindle it down a little with the state track meet coming up. That's basically it right now and then just fishing whenever I can when it's nice out.
Q: Are you working out at XL Sports Acceleration still?
PIERSCHBACHER: Yeah, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I go over there and lift heavy. Then Tuesday and Thursday, I do upper body at the high school.
Q: Looking ahead to your senior year, what are your goals individually and team wise?
PIERSCHBACHER: Individually just to improve in everything. Each year you always want to improve and especially as an offensive lineman going into college you want to be prepared going up against those types of guys, so just get a lot stronger, work on technique, and all around just improve, which I think everyone wants to do. Just get better as a lineman, a football player, and a leader. Then as a team get better also. I think a lot of people aren't thinking too much about us this year, so that just kind of gives us some determination. We've got a lot of guys working hard and we're pretty hungry this year, so I'm excited to see what we can do. I like our chances because I know what our guys are capable of and a lot of people don't see it, so it will be fun to kind of open up some eyes the first couple of weeks.
A four-star prospect, Pierschbacher is currently ranked No. 79 overall in the Rivals100 for the Class of 2014. Along with Iowa, he has received scholarship offers from USC, Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Stanford, among others.