By Gary Ogle
gogle@wbcowqel.com
Galion senior football player Dareian Watkins will not be playing football for Northwestern University next fall, or any season for that matter.
Heath Watkins, Dareian’s father, confirmed the Tigers’ four-year letter winner who played offense and defense as well as punted, will not be headed to Evanston.
“Unfortunately he (Dareian) decided against it,” Heath Watkins said. “After talking to Coach (Pat) Fitzgerald it was probably the right decision.
An article in the Chicago Tribune by Teddy Greenstein on Wednesday and another by WildcatReport both reported that Watkins and Northwestern mutually agreed to end their relationship before it really got started. A Rivals’ reporter has also confirmed that the scholarship offer to Watkins is no longer available. Watkins verbally accepted a scholarship offer from the Wildcats last May.
The Tribune article stated Watkins and NU officials had talked after Watkins was suspended prior to the Tigers playoff game two weeks ago. Reasons for that suspension have not been made public.
Heath Watkins said the incident that led to the suspension had nothing to do with Dareian not attending Northwestern. Heath Watkins said “Northwestern was great” about the situation and had even increased what the school was offering.
Following Watkins’ most recent discussion with Northwestern he made a weekend visit to Wisconsin. WildcatReport stated that following Watkins’ visit to Wisconsin, Northwestern rescinded its offer and Watkins officially decommitted from the Evanston school.
Heath Watkins says that is not exactly the case and that his son first made the decision to look elswhere to continue his football career. In fact, the older Watkins stated that Fitzgerald encouraged his son to rethink his decision to decommit to Northwestern and at least “sleep on it.”
Watkins is rated a four-star recruit and was considering Michigan State, Penn State and Iowa as well as Wisconsin prior to his verbal commitment to Northwestern.
Heath Watkins said Dareian was really impressed with the receivers coach for the Badgers and was heavily leaning towards the Madison entry in the Big Ten. Watkins, however, may take the opportunity to look over other offers prior to making another commitment and could, according to his father, visit a couple of unnamed SEC schools.