Fahning has received a preferred walk-on opportunity with Minnesota with eight scholarship offers to date.
Chad Fahning, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound senior tackle from Minneapolis (MN) DeLaSalle, was a preseason All- Metro selection. Fahning has received a preferred walk-on opportunity with Minnesota with eight scholarship offers to date. GopherHole.com caught up with Fahning recently to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Fahinnig has helped lead the Islanders to a 7-0 start as they are ranked #1 in Class 4A and are scoring 49.7 points per game. He has received an offer from Western Michigan, Montana State, Eastern Michigan, Columbia, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, and South Dakota State.
Gopher Hole: What schools are you hearing from right now?
Chad Fahning: I have kind of focused it down. A lot of schools have offered. I am really focusing on the University of Wisconsin and Minnesota right now. I have talked to both of them extensively about official visits and what not and a third group of schools. I am kind of looking at Ivy League schools right now. I have an offer from Columbia and the University of Pennsylvania, so I am really looking into those.
Gopher Hole: What camps did you get to attend this summer?
Chad Fahning: I attended two Minnesota Gopher ones, because they are my number one by far. I went to Wisconsin’s three-day camp. I was up at North Dakota State and I went to Columbia’s camp in New York and finally I went to the Chicago Showcase at Northwestern.
Gopher Hole: I know that unfortunately, Minnesota doesn’t have many seniors, so they don’t have many scholarships, especially for linemen where everyone is young on the line. Have they offered you a preferred walk-on?
Chad Fahning: Yes. We have talked extensively about walk-on position and hopefully having a scholarship after a couple of years, which I am definitely open to.
Gopher Hole: Is that something that would appeal to you to play for the home state school?
Chad Fahning: Very much.
Gopher Hole: Did you grow up as Gopher fan? Did you go to many games?
Chad Fahning: A lot of people in Minnesota grow up as Badgers fans or Hawkeye fans. I was always a Gopher. We have basketball season tickets. I have been wearing Gopher maroon and gold ever since I was two.
Gopher Hole: What things have you been working on this summer or since school started to improve yourself as a player?
Chad Fahning: The Tri-Metro has a lot of good team in it, but it is not Division I caliber level. I am trying not to play. I am trying to progress myself as a player.
Gopher Hole: You mentioned Wisconsin. What are you hearing from them? Is it a similar situation?
Chad Fahning: Actually, I talked extensively with Coach Markuson. He was my position coach as well as area recruiter, but he got released after the Oregon State game, so now I am just trying to contact them and get back on track with them.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought about making some other visits this fall?
Chad Fahning: I have been talking to another Big Ten team, Illinois, a little bit. I have actually been to a South Dakota State game already, but I am just e-mailing coaches and I will probably go to Wyoming this
fall.
Gopher Hole: Have you had a chance to put together any game film or tapes to send out?
Chad Fahning: I am sending out my full game tapes to schools.
Gopher Hole: Have you even thought about what you would like to major in at college?
Chad Fahning: Probably Political Science.
Gopher Hole: Have you taken the ACT or SAT?
Chad Fahning: I took the ACT. I got a 24.