Tristan Nevotne didn’t play a down during the fall football season, but the former Hinsdale Central offensive lineman planned Wednesday to sign with Fordham on the first day of the National Signing period.
Nevotne’s story is one of loyalty and patience in the frenzied world of college football recruiting.
The 6-3, 292-pound senior was to be a key piece of the Red Devils’ offensive line last season, likely at guard, while blocking for new varsity quarterback Matt Rafferty. But after Hinsdale Central’s intrasquad scrimmage, Nevotne tore the meniscus and sprained his ACL in his left knee in practice leading up to the season opener at Bolingbrook.
Nevotne played on the defensive line as a junior and looked to play on both sides of the ball for first-year coach Dan Hartman, but wound up sitting out his entire senior season. Nevotne said he believes his injury was related to an earlier stress fracture in his right foot and he might have placed too much stress on his left knee.
He had already given a verbal commitment to Fordham in early August and the school remained firm in its offer. The Rams have recruited Nevotne as a center.
Nevotne has become steeped in Fordham football history and knows about the school’s “Seven Blocks of Granite” offensive line from the 1930s.
“I’m so happy with the choice I have made,” Nevotne said. “I think I will flourish there.”
Nevotne wasn’t so sure about Fordham after taking the first of his two visits over the summer.
“When I visited over the summer, I didn’t get it at the time. There were summer camps and it was a hot day in New York,” Nevotne said. “When I went back a second time for my official visit, I absolutely loved it. The coaches were fantastic.”
Nevotne said his father John and Fordham coach Joe Moorhead hit it off right away. Moorhead grew up in Pittsburgh and John Nevotne is a native of nearby New Castle, Pennsylvania.
Nazareth, Fenwick stars go down to the wire
Nazareth’s Jack Shutack and Fenwick’s Jack Beneventi entered this week still waiting to make their final decisions.
Shutack, the 6-6, 290-pound left tackle for Nazareth’s Class 6A state championship team, had narrowed his choices to Rutgers and Tennessee. He made an official trip to Tennessee Friday after visiting Rutgers Jan. 23.
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“Those are my two schools of interest,” Shutack said Jan. 29 before leaving for Knoxville, Tennessee.
He also has offers from Iowa State, Minnesota, North Carolina State and Western Michigan, according to Rivals.com.
Beneventi made his official visit to Western Illinois over the weekend. The 6-6, 210-pound quarterback verbally committed to Iowa in 2013 when he still was at Benet, but the Hawkeyes pulled their offer in December. Beneventi struggled during his senior season after transferring to Fenwick and completed 120 of 248 passes for 1,515 yards with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Huskies will continue as Northwestern teammates
Adam Lemke-Bell protected Lloyd Yates’ blind side for the last two years, so it’s appropriate the Oak Park-River Forest teammates planned to sign together Wednesday for Northwestern.
Lemke-Bell, a 6-5, 265-pound left tackle, and the 6-1, 190-pound Yates are two of four Chicago area prospects expected to sign with the Wildcats, according to Rivals.com. Yates is the only quarterback in the Wildcats’ recruiting class.
Lemke-Bell orally committed to Northwestern on May 31 and Yates followed in July.
“It’s awesome,” Yates said. “Before we committed, we talked about going to school together. We have similar priorities with a mix of academics and football.”
Lemke-Bell, who wrestles for the defending Class 3A state champions, began playing football his sophomore year.
“For both of us to sign, I can’t wait until Wednesday,” Lemke-Bell said. “This is the next stop in our journey.”
Kelly-Martin sticks with early offer from ISU
Illinois State’s appearance last month in the FCS National Championship made an impression on Nazareth linebacker Decxavier Kelly-Martin. The 6-3, 200-pound senior verbally committed to the Redbirds after North Dakota State’s thrilling 29-27 victory in Frisco, Texas.
Kelly-Martin selected Illinois State after considering Indiana State.
“Illinois State was the first school to make me an offer (in the summer). That made me feel relieved,” Kelly-Martin said. “On my visit, I felt comfortable with the team’s coaches.”
Six Nazareth football players are expected to sign with Division I teams. Teammate Kevin Jackson is reportedly ready to sign with Wyoming.
Brandeis looks to join brother at Dayton
Family considerations were a factor last week in Matt Brandeis’ decision to commit to Dayton. Brandeis, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive end for Hinsdale South. He was expecting take an offer from Dayton, where his brother Chris is a freshman, although he does not play football.
Brandeis, who also drew interest from Butler, joins Lyons senior Dante Stefanini as a recent commitment for the Flyers, who play in the FCS Pioneer League.
“I really bonded with the coaches and the players on my overnight (visit),” Brandeis said. “I fit in well with the players that brought me in and the coaches I bonded with.”
SIGNING DAY
Where the area’s top players were expected to sign Wednesday:
FENWICK
Jack Beneventi, QB, W. Illinois or James Madison
Aaron Garland, DB, Connecticut
HINSDALE CENTRAL
Tristan Nevotne, OL, Fordham
HINSDALE SOUTH
Matt Brandeis, DL, Dayton
LYONS
Leonard Ross, RB, Miami, Ohio
Dante Stefanini, DL, Dayton
NAZARETH
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Kevin Jackson, WR, Wyoming
Decxavier Kelly-Martin, LB, Illinois State
Jack Shutack, OL, Rutgers/Tennessee
OAK PARK-RIVER FOREST
Adam Lemke-Bell, OL, Northwestern
Lloyd Yates, QB, Northwestern
Note: Ivy League and service academy players do not sign official letters of intent. Nazareth offensive linemen John Kilcommons and Patrick Kilcommons, and Oak Park-River Forest offensive lineman Philip Berton plan to play football at Dartmouth. Hinsdale Central lineman Stefan Ivanisevic intends to head to Princeton and Red Devils wide receiver Thomas Ives expects to play at Colgate.
Nazareth lineman Mike Owens and Hinsdale Central lineman Michael Johnson have committed to West Point.