Johnsburg's Fiedorowicz picks Illinois

C.J. Fiedorowicz of Johnsburg has committed to play football at Illinois. (Northwest Herald file photo)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

C.J. Fiedorowicz originally balked at his mother’s idea to leave one day early last month for a 7-on-7 football passing camp at the University of Illinois.

The Johnsburg senior-to-be entertained offers from Iowa, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Wisconsin last fall, while Illinois entered the recruitment process in January. LeeAnn Fiedorowicz thought her son should talk to the Illinois coaches, so they left early to spend a day in Champaign.

During his visit with the coaches on June 18, Fiedorowicz thanked his mother. “This is where I should be,” he told LeeAnn.

Fiedorowicz, the No. 2-rated tight end in the nation by Scouts.com, called Illinois head coach Ron Zook and offensive line coach Joe Gilbert Wednesday with his commitment. Fiedorowicz (6-foot-7, 250 pounds) will be one of the jewels of the Illini’s 2010 recruiting class.

“Iowa was my top choice, I wasn’t even considering Illinois,” Fiedorowicz said. “In the first two hours there I fell in love with it. It was my first visit, and I knew right away. At other places, it took two or three.”

Fiedorowicz (6-foot-7, 250 pounds) quickly forged a relationship with Gilbert, who recruits the McHenry County area for Illinois, and the other coaches. He also hung out with players that night, including recruits Chandler Whitmer, a quarterback from Downers Grove South, and Corey Cooper, a wide receiver from Proviso East.

Fiedorowicz is ranked No. 79 overall by Scouts.com in the 2010 senior class. Cooper is 140th. Fiedorowicz, Cooper and Whitmer all are friends with Proviso West wide receiver Kyle Prater, ranked No. 11 overall by Scouts.com, who also is considering Illinois.

“I’ve been holding him off on committing,” LeeAnn said. “But he said, ‘I really want to commit.’ He really connected with the coaches the first time he was there.”

Fiedorowicz called Iowa’s coaches Wednesday night to inform them of his decision. He planned to call Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wisconsin on Thursday.

Fiedorowicz is a two-time Northwest Herald All-Area first team selection at wide receiver. He caught 64 passes for 1,043 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore, then caught 49 passes for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns last season.

After he graduates, Fiedorowicz will be considered one of the best athletes to ever come through the McHenry County area. He has accumulated nine varsity letters in four sports. He has three in football and basketball, two in baseball and one in track and field.

With speed that belies his size, Fiedorowicz was part of the Skyhawks’ 4x100-meter relay team which qualified for the IHSA Class 2A Boys Track and Field State Meet.

“Now I’m done with all the stress of talking to coaches and the media about it,” Fiedorowicz said. “I won’t have to worry about it during the football season.”