Northwestern picks up first 2020 in-state recruit as superback Hunter Welcing commits

Pat Fitzgerald and his staff secured their first 2020 in-state commitment in superback Hunter Welcing. The Lake Zurich, Ill. native announced his pledge to NU on Saturday, one week after receiving an offer from the Wildcats.

Welcing ranks as the No. 17 recruit in the state and the No. 35 tight end prospect nationally, according to 247Sports.com.

247Sports.com also reported that Welcing played hockey until his junior year of high school, when he decided to give football a try. His athleticism certainly translated — according to Welcing’s Hudl page, he runs a 4.7 40-yard dash and squats 420 pounds. Northwestern was Welcing’s second offer; the other came from Western Michigan.

Here are Welcing’s junior year highlights:

Welcing becomes the fifth recruit in NU’s 2020 class, and the fourth on the offensive side of the ball.