It’s not very often that the Huskies dip their toe into the pool of Midwest recruiting, but when they do, it’s no surprise that it’s the work of Pete Kwaitkowski and it’s an edge-rusher…
A week ago Kwaitkowski received a call from Tiffin, Iowa (Clear Creek Amana HS) defensive end, TJ Bollers. The 6-3 and-a-quarter, 240 lb. prospect was surprised that the convo ended in an offer.
“We talked a little bit — and then at the end he said “we’re going to offer you a scholarship”, and I was like…oh my gosh, no way. I didn’t expect that.”
Bollers has been fielding a bunch of texts and talking to a lot of coaches since September 1st rolled around; and at this point he couldn’t be more relieved that the action has picked way up.
“I got my first four offers during my freshman year”, Bollers explained, “And then during my sophomore year there was just nothing. I thought I was completely washed up.”
But obviously that wasn’t the case. Bollers now holds 13 offers and they’re coming from all over.
The Huskies join Nebraska, Vandy, Florida, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Michigan, Michigan State, Cal, Minnesota, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin, but you can bet there will be more.
Bollers has some strong bloodlines in college football; his father Trevor played tailback for Iowa toward the end of the Hayden Frye era before heading South to play for Jacksonville. In fact, TJ was actually born in Florida.
The family settled back in Iowa though, and now Trevor is his son’s d-line coach at Clear Creek Amana.
TJ, who’s a 4-star DE, posted 45 tackles (13 for loss) last season as a sophomore, and added five sacks for good measure. This year, however, he is hesitant to share his stats, “I’m superstitious about keeping track of my stats”, he said with a laugh.
While he doesn’t consider himself just a pass-rusher, he is a guy who definitely effects the quarterback and shows excellent pursuit for the running back. He has a lot of speed off the ball and violent hands. One thing you see on film is that he doesn’t lose leverage and he’s able to hold strength in his lower body. Many times he’s triple-teamed and yet he’s able to break free and chase down his man.
Bollers is just the kind of guy that Kwaitkowski loves to recruit for that hybrid, BUCK position.
“I want to get up to Washington sometime soon”, Bollers said, “Every school who has offered…I’ve done research on them and one thing I like about Washington is the academics.”
Bollers has aspirations of getting a degree in engineering so this is an immediate draw to the Huskies, aside from football.
With a strong family dynamic and a father who knows all about the in’s and out’s of recruiting and getting to the next level, Bollers has “OKG” written all over him.
It’s a long process, but Washington has their foot in the door and could become a real player as time goes on.
