Northwestern Continues Hot Streak Adding Texas SS Austin Hiller to 2017 Class
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Northwestern snuck into Texas on Thursday landing overlooked Lake Travis High School safety Austin Hiller stealing away a recruiting gem from in-state schools too slow to act.
Hiller is a big bruising tackler for the Cavaliers coming up with 123 tackles, 84 solo, and 3.5 tackles for a loss during his junior season. He added seven interceptions, six pass deflections, forced three fumbles, and blocked three punts rising above a highly productive sophomore season when he had 75 tackles and five pass broken up.
Most colleges were too afraid to go into the Longhorns backyard in an attempt to swoon the 6’1”, 200 pound, defensive playmaker out of the Lone Star State. Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette, Penn, SMU, Dartmouth, Brown, Texas State, and Tulsa were the only other schools to offer Hiller.
Hiller brings a winning pedigree with him to Northwestern. The Cavaliers were one of the best teams not only in Texas last season but in the nation compiling a 15-1 record making a run to the UIL State Championship Game verses Katy before falling 34-7. Hiller was a key player on the Cavaliers 10-2 team during the 2014 season as well.
The Wildcats now have seven verbal commitments to their 2017 recruiting class with four coming from the state of Texas.
Since Tuesday, Northwestern has added three commitments to their class, Trevor Kent, Earnest Brown, and Hiller.
Northwestern 2017 Verbal Commitment List
SS Austin Hiller, 6-1, 200, Lake Travis HS, Austin, TX
LB Blake Gallagher, 6-0, 220, St. Sebestian HS, Needham, MA
DE Earnest Brown, 6-5, 230, Ryan HS, Denton, TX
DE Trevor Kent, 6-5, 250, Pittsburg HS, Pittsburg, KS
DT Sam Miller, 6-3, 260, Stratford HS, Houston, TX
OC Sam Gerak 6-3, 270, Avon HS, Avon, OH
OG Rashawn Slater, 6’4.5”, 280, Clements HS, Sugar Land, TX
Photo credit: statesman.com; No. 25 Austin Hiller celebrates a play for the Cavaliers.