Brock on final five: 'I really can't lose'
By Matt Schuckman Herald-Whig
Posted: May. 18, 2018 8:30 pm
As he narrows his list of potential landing spots, Jirehl Brock believes the recruiting process is getting easier.
"You would think it would get tougher," the Quincy High School junior running back said. "But I have really good options. I really can't lose."
Brock recently announced on social media his final five schools -- Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Purdue. He eliminated Illinois and Indiana.
He is taking his first official visit this weekend as he explores the Northwestern campus in Evanston. He is in the process of scheduling the remainder of his official visits over the next month.
Brock figures he will narrow his list again to a final three before picking his college destination. He'd like to have his decision made by late June or early July.
Other schools continue their pursuit of the four-star recruit, in spite of his announcement this week. He said he recently heard from Notre Dame and Michigan.
"Until I sign on the dotted line, I'm hearing that will continue to happen," Brock said.
Getting him to change his mind about his top five won't be easy because of the common theme the schools share.
"The head coaches of all five schools, I have a good relationship with," Brock said. "The running backs coaches, too. I've built a relationship with them as well. That's a big thing for me."
If there was a surprise among his top five, it was the omission of Illinois. The uncertainty facing the coaching staff during its rebuilding process impacted Brock.
"I just didn't feel good with their situation," he said. "The coaching staff is in a must-win situation now. If they don't, they could be gone. I don't want to spend my college career going through a rebuilding process."
