Architecture has been an integral part of Jordan Noil’s identity ever since being assigned a creatively unique hands-on project in third grade. Noil was required to construct a “leprechaun trap” out of a cardboard box, flush with stairs, separate rooms and the dimensions to capture and house a miniature-sized mythical green creature.
Building things has sort of been Noil’s own thing for a while now, and he hopes to continue his passion for architecture in college, quite possibly with an engineering degree from Northwestern’s prestigious McCormick School.
“It has one of the better engineering schools out there,” Noil, an athlete from Norcross, Georgia, said of Northwestern. “They are heading up.”
To earn a degree from McCormick, you need to clear a couple of important steps. First, an inherent love for design, and a strong devotion to academics. If you’re a football recruit looking to play on scholarship, an offer would help, and Noil believes coach Jerry Brown is in the process of making that happen sooner rather than later.
On a visit to one of Noil’s spring practices, Brown and Noil talked Wildcats, and where Brown sees him fitting in as a free safety in NU’s young secondary. They have remained in contact over Facebook and more recently discussed Noil’s transcripts specifically.
A scholarship offer could be coming his way within the next few weeks, according to Noil.
“We talked about my academics and stuff,” he said. “Coach Brown told me how he really liked me and talked about his plans for me. I’m definitely interested”
The only BCS offers Noil currently holds are Maryland and Kansas State, but he expects Texas Tech to offer sometime this summer and mentioned other schools – including Georgia Tech, Louisville, Auburn, Duke and Nebraska – that have demonstrated interest.
His recruitment is in its formative stages, and Noil plans to passively soak in whatever offers fly his way before even thinking about making a decision. He expects his college choice to drag out into the fall, maybe even after his senior season, and would like to make several official visits in the meantime, Northwestern among them.
The rapid-fire pace of Northwestern's 2014 commitments could force Noil to make a decision on the Wildcats sooner than he might like. If NU holds open a scholarship spot in the secondary entering the fall, and Noil keeps to his decision plans, he could be the late "catch" of this fast-filling class.
“I’ll probably use one of my officials for that,” Noil said of visiting Northwestern.
A player’s recruiting reputations can build on itself in different ways – slow, fast, steady, frenetic. Noil’s relationship with Northwestern is just beginning to heat up, and a scholarship offer could sizzle into something more.
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The Profile
School: Norcross High School
Position: Safety, Athlete
Stars: 2
Other offers: Maryland, Kansas State, Charlotte, Buffalo, Mercer, Georgia State, Western Kentucky
Profiles: Rivals, Scout, ESPN
Notes: Expects offer from Northwestern within next few weeks, has been in close contact with defensive backs coach Jerry Brown.