CARY – Cary-Grove’s Kyle Norberg mentioned before the weekend his choice of a college to play football might be a “game-time decision.”
Norberg hoped to make it Sunday, but as of Sunday night, his mother Renee said he had not yet decided between North Dakota or Iowa.
Norberg (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) had North Dakota, an NCAA Division I school that plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, a soft commitment. He visited Iowa over the weekend and hoped that Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz might make an offer.
It could be a case of Iowa waiting for other recruits until Wednesday, the first day of the signing period for football, to see if a scholarship was available. Iowa’s coaches had told Norberg he could have a spot as a preferred walk-on.
If Iowa did not make a scholarship offer, Norberg indicated he would accept North Dakota’s offer and sign Wednesday with the Fighting Sioux.
Norberg was a three-year starter at linebacker for C-G and also started at fullback as a senior. Norberg rushed for 2,218 yards and 27 touchdowns and was a Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selection. He was a vital part for the Trojans, who finished 13-1 and lost in the IHSA Class 6A state championship game to Crete-Monee, 33-26.
North Dakota recruited Norberg as a linebacker, while Iowa was considering him as a fullback. North Dakota’s coaches held a scholarship for Norberg, aware that he was still looking at Iowa.
“[North Dakota coaches] have been really cool about it,” Norberg said. “We’ve built a relationship, I’ve been honest with them and they’ve been honest with me. They kept a scholarship for me, but they told me they may need a decision sooner.”
