Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz visited offensive lineman Nolan MacMillan at his school in New Jersey. Then, he flew to Toronto and visited MacMillan’s parents, Paul and Janet.
It’s safe to say that Ferentz wanted MacMillan, a 6-foot-6, 285-pounder, to play for the Hawkeyes.
Thursday, MacMillan, who played this season at The Hun School (Princeton, N.J.), picked the Hawkeyes over Boston College, Virginia and a host of offers. MacMillan’s comfort level with Iowa and Ferentz put the Hawkeyes over the top.
“It starts with coach Ferentz,” MacMillan said. “I had great communication and a great relationship with him from the first time we established contact.”
Defensive assistant Darrell Wilson made contact with MacMillan at The Hun. MacMillan met offensive line coach Reese Morgan and recruiting coordinator Eric Johnson on his official visit. His comfort level only grew from there.
“Iowa made sense,” MacMillan said. “The whole staff is a reflection of coach Ferentz and that’s something I want to be a part of.”
MacMillan played high school football at St. Michael’s College School in his hometown, Toronto. He decided to take the prep school route to gain some exposure. It worked. He had more than 10 offers, from all over the east coast.
The Hun and coach Dave Dudeck might produce as many as eight Football Bowl Subdivision players this season, MacMillan said. In the last nine years, the school has produced 76 FBS players. Florida State all-American and Rhodes scholar Myron Rolle is a Hun grad.
Seemingly, every kid in Canada has to decide if they’re going to be a hockey player. MacMillan played through his freshman year at St. Michael’s before concentrating on football.
MacMillan’s commitment gives Iowa five potential offensive linemen in a class that now has 19 known commitments.
The national signing period begins next Wednesday.
____________
Alright, time for trivia.
I looked up the last Canadian Hawkeye in our archives. This is a tough one. I’m not sure the guy played. His career was cut short by injury. I don’t remember a Canadian playing in the Ferentz era.
So, have at it. I’ll come up with some sort of prize for the winner.
Colin Cole was born in Canada but moved to the US before he started playing football. Does that count?
http://www.packers.com/team/players/cole_colin/
By: MF on January 29, 2009
at 4:28 PM
trevor bollers
By: e on January 29, 2009
at 5:15 PM
I wasn’t thinking Cole, but . . . I also thought he was from Jamaica.
Trevor Bollers might’ve been the last Canadian to play for the Hawkeyes, but he wasn’t the last one on the roster.
Keep trying. This is a toughie.
By: marcmwm on January 29, 2009
at 5:29 PM
I believe Trevor Bollers, a backup fullback, was from Canada. He was a Hawkeye from about 1994-1998.
By: DJ on January 29, 2009
at 5:34 PM
After further research, I think it is Trevor Bollers.
At first, I thought it was this guy: Chris Zdzienicki.
But I think his last days were 1996. This from our archives:
“Terry Mueller and Chris Zdzienicki have prematurely ended their football careers at the University of Iowa due to medical problems.
Both players will remain in school on medical hardship scholarships, Coach Hayden Fry said Friday.
Mueller, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman from Belle Mead, N.J., had leg injuries. Zdzienicki, a 6-2, 270-pound defensive lineman from Ontario, Canada, had a variety of ailments, according
to Fry.
E and DJ, you win. The prizes are a rally towel and a program from Ferentz’s first game as Iowa’s coach. I think I still have those, I think I do.
By: marcmwm on January 29, 2009
at 5:42 PM
Is it Trevor Bollers?
I really like what MacMillan said, he gets KF and that’s a nice thing to read.
Sounds like a good kid and hopefully in a couple years he earns PT.
By: EP on January 30, 2009
at 6:36 AM
Bollers lettered in ’98. Zdzienicki lettered in ’97.
But Colin Cole was born in Toronto.
Technicalities.
By: marcmwm on January 30, 2009
at 3:18 PM