Maine South All-state running back Fotis Kokosioulis (5-foot-8, 165 pounds) made a spring practice visit to NIU on Tuesday morning and wound up adding his first offer from the Huskies.
"(The offer from NIU) was a little bit of a surprise," Kokosioulis, a junior, said. "I really wasn't heavily talking to the coaches at NIU. I just heard from them recently, they invited me up to visit them and they offered."
Kokosioulis, who has also drawn recruiting interest this spring from Army, Indiana State, Colgate and Cornell, also came away impressed with NIU after his Tuesday visit.
"I went to NIU as a freshman for a football camp but outside of that camp this was my first visit as a recruit. I was at NIU early in the morning and watched a spring practice," he said. "I liked the way that they practiced and the facilities are really nice. The coaches at NIU were really nice. I'm just happy to finally get an offer. Now I can think more of what type of school I would like to go to instead of having no options."
Metea Valley sophomore quarterback Payton Thorne (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) made a recent visit to Western Michigan and came away with his first scholarship offer. Thorne, the son of North Central College head coach Jeff Thorne, discussed his first impressions from his visit to the school.
"I visited Western Michigan two weeks ago and it was a really good visit," he said. "WMU offered me a scholarship when I was on the visit. I love the staff at Western Michigan and they also have a nice campus and outstanding facilities. I've also known head coach Tim Lester my whole life, so getting this offer is pretty special."
Thorne has also drawn very early recruiting interest and has made unofficial visits to Minnesota and Penn State.
De LaSalle junior defensive back Byron Perkins (6-foot-2, 170 pounds) was asked by the Purdue staff to make an unofficial visit on Monday and Perkins came away with his first Big Ten offer from the Boilermakers.
"It's hard to find words to describe the feeling of getting an offer from Purdue," Perkins said. "I visited Purdue two weeks ago and had a great visit. Then Purdue cornerbacks backs coach (Derrick Jackson) wanted me to come back to campus on Monday and that's when they offered me."
Perkins, who is also holding an offer from Louisiana Lafayette, has drawn increased recruiting looks from several schools.
"I've been in contact with just about the entire Mid American Conference schools along with Iowa, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State and also Louisville. Several of those coaches have said that they will be in school some time this spring."
Naperville North junior wide receiver Nick Calcagno (6-foot-3, 207 pounds) made a recent spring practice visit to Southern Illinois University and added his first offer from the Salukis.
"I went down to SIU on Saturday for a Junior Day," Calcagno said. "I spent a lot of time talking to SIU wide receivers coach Nick Williams before and after the scrimmage. I was able to take a full tour of the facilities and I was really surprised at how nice everything was at SIU. They have great facilities and a great stadium. I also really liked the campus and it feels great to get my first offer from SIU. I'm hoping to get back for another visit to SIU again soon."
Calcagno has drawn recruiting looks from Iowa State, Western Michigan North Dakota State, North Dakota and Western Illinois.