Niemann Discusses Hawkeye Decision
Ben Niemann experienced the recruiting process two years ago. He could provide his younger brother with plenty of advice. He chose a reserved approach instead.
"He stepped back and wanted me to do what I wanted and what was best for me," Nick Niemann said. "He didn’t really push me to commit to Iowa. But now that I did, he’s really excited for me."
Nick Niemann pledged to the Hawkeyes Friday night during the team’s recruiting tailgate. Ben Niemann ended the spring as Iowa’s starting LEO linebacker.
"Iowa has been a place that I’ve always liked a lot," Nick said. "I just wanted to take my time and make sure. Everything about the school impresses me, coaches, facilities the academics, everything about them is what I’m looking for in a school."
Nick Niemann also reported scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa State, Northwestern and Wisconsin, among others. In the end, the Hawkeye program stuck out.
"It’s a family atmosphere. Everyone cares about each other. It seems like a really close-knit circle and everyone there has the same intentions of being successful no matter what you’re doing," Nick said.
Rivals ranks Nick Niemann (6-3, 210) as a three-star recruit and the No. 27 player in Illinois for the Class of 2016. Scout tabs him as a two-star and 247 has him as a three-star and No. 26 in the state.
Nick and Ben’s father, Jay Niemann, is the defensive coordinator at Northern Illinois, the school to which Ben was committed as a receiver until flipping to Iowa in the summer of ’13.
Jay Niemann, a native of Avoca, Iowa, spent much of his 26-year coaching career in his home state, with stops at Simpson (Iowa) College, the Northern Iowa and Drake. Niemann compiled a 32-29 record in his six seasons as head coach at Simpson (2002-07), where he led the Storm to the 2003 NCAA playoffs while also serving as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Ben Niemann found it difficult to switch his commitment from NIU to Iowa as it prevented it from playing for a team coached by his father. For Nick, his older brother made it easier to become a Hawkeye.
"Playing with my brother in the Big Ten is an opportunity you can’t pass up," Nick said.
Nick Niemann is one of 15 known verbal commitments in Iowa’s ’16 Class.
"It feels great. I couldn’t be any happier with my decision. It’s nice to have all the other recruiting stuff off of my chest. Now I get to focus on my senior season without any worries," he said.
CLASS OF 2016 Verbals (Click on name for profile with game film & other offers)
