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Devils lineman Piker picks Holy Cross
Nick Piker
Updated: February 25, 2013 5:14PM
Holy Cross was the last of two official visits Nick Piker made last month while he weighed his options on where to play college football.
It was the trip that made the biggest impression for the offensive lineman from Hinsdale Central.
Piker planned to sign his national letter of intent with the Crusaders Wednesday morning, selecting the Worcester, Mass., school over Georgetown. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Piker also was offered the opportunity to play for Minnesota as a preferred walk-on.
Two other former Hinsdale Central players, running back Jack Adams (Dayton) and linebacker Andrew Pyle (Penn), also are expected to sign letters of intent Wednesday morning.
Piker verbally committed to Holy Cross shortly before he made his recruiting trip Jan. 25-26.
“It was really great going around the school,” said Piker, a Westmont resident. “I liked how all the (recruited) football players were paired with alums or ... former football players.”
Piker looked at Holy Cross as a school that could help him in his career beyond football. He would like to study business, perhaps economics, accounting or finance.
After not playing his junior year, Piker had a standout senior season while starting at left tackle for the Class 8A playoff-qualifying Devils. One of Piker’s linemates, 6-3, 292-pound Chris Wilson, will play next season at Grand Valley State. Junior center Brian Allen has already received Division I scholarship offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Purdue and Wisconsin, according to Rivals.com.
Piker will join four other Chicago area players at Holy Cross next season: offensive lineman Richard Barber (Lake Forest Academy); defensive back Philip Gough (Fenwick), a Hinsdale resident; defensive lineman Charlie Murphy (Lake Forest); and quarterback Michael Shewchuk (Taft).
Piker, whose aunt Bonnie lives in Boston, is Hinsdale Central’s top returning athlete in the discus and shot put.
