The Graham High School senior defensive back has verbally committed to play football at Northwestern University next season.
“It’s a dream come true,” VanHoose said.
Last summer, VanHoose verbally committed to play at Indiana University. But when Hoosiers coach Bill Lynch was fired, the recruiting process picked back up for VanHoose.
“I was pretty disappointed, but it opened up other options,” VanHoose said.
He had several Big Ten and Mid-American Conference teams interested, including Illinois and Central Michigan, but he chose to play for coach Pat Fitzgerald, a College Football Hall of Famer, and the Wildcats.
He visited the campus in Evanston, Ill., last weekend, and verbally committed on Dec. 13.
“The coaches are great and it’s a great school for academics,” VanHoose said.
The Wildcats (7-5, 3-5 Big Ten) will face Texas Tech in the inaugural TicketCity Bowl at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Jan. 1.
VanHoose was named the Central Buckeye Conference Mad River Division Co-Player of the year last season after rushing for 1,495 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2009, he rushed for 1,877 yards and 23 TDs.
Defensively, VanHoose had 60 total tackles and four interceptions, three of which were returned for TDs. He’s also a dangerous return man, gaining 285 yards and one kickoff return TD.
He was also selected to the All-Ohio second team for the second year in a row.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0365 or mcooper@coxohio.com.
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