The Iowa football program has made big splashes in past years with its walk-on program. Not everyone can get a scholarship offer before signing day.
Sometimes, there are not enough offers to go around for certain positions and sometimes injuries force schools to think twice about paying for a student-athlete’s education.
There is no telling why the Iowa coaches did not decide to offer Union Community senior wideout Trev Hadachek, but Hadachek said yes to the Hawkeyes anyway, accepting a preferred walk-on offer this past week and officially became a member of the Hawkeye family last Wednesday on National Signing Day.
Here is a Question and Answer segment I recently did with Hadachek, who is extremely excited to prove he is worthy of a Division I scholarship.
For now, he will try to pave his way through hard work, just like Dallas Clark and more recently Mark Weisman.
Troy Hyde: Break down your options for me again. You got offers from Northern Iowa and some others right? And you had preferred walk-on opportunities at Iowa and Iowa State?
Trev Hadachek: I had offers from North Dakota, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and Eastern Illinois. I also had multiple FCS schools tell me that if I visited I would have an offer. I had preferred walk-on opportunities at Iowa, Iowa State, Wisconsin and Arkansas.
Hyde: Why Iowa? What made the decision for you?
Hadachek: When I took my visit there I already felt like a part of the team. I meshed with the players really well, and I know they have a tremendous history of walk-ons.
Hyde: What role did (Union Community star) Jay Scheel's commitment play in you choosing Iowa?
Hadachek: Jay’s decision virtually had no play in my choosing. I knew that I needed to go where I wanted to and where I thought I could be most successful. Sure, it is going to be great playing with him again, and I love him like a brother, but I knew I couldn’t let this be a factor in my decision.
Hyde: What were some positives to playing at Iowa State? How close were the Cyclones from the Hawkeyes?
Hadachek: The Cyclones play more spread, which could benefit my position at slot receiver. It was really close. I was very close with the coaches from ISU, so it was a tough choice, but I knew that coaches won't always stay so I went with my gut at Iowa.
Hyde: What position do you expect to play at Iowa? Have you talked about that yet?
Hadachek: I will either play free safety or slot receiver.
Hyde: Why did you pass on scholarship offers for a chance to walk-on at Iowa?
Hadachek: The dream. I have always wanted to compete at the highest level, and FCS is great competition, but there is something about playing in front of 70,000 people that motivates me to play in the Big Ten.
Hyde: Your dad said Wisconsin got in the picture a little bit? How serious were they to you and how serious were you to them?
Hadachek: They were a very serious player before the coaching staff left. I loved Madison and their defensive backs coach, but once they left to Arkansas, I felt like going into a system with new coaches as a walk-on would give me no advantage.
Hyde: Iowa has been a great program over the past decade. But coming off a 4-win season, how did they sell you on wanting to play for them?
Hadachek: The class of 2013 has some great players, on and off the field. Guys like Ike Boettger, Josey Jewell, Malik Rucker, Jon Wisnieski and Paul Brown are all guys I want to surround myself with. I also liked the academic part of Iowa.
Hyde: What was Paul Rhoads' sales pitch or whoever recruited you at Iowa State?
Hadachek: Just that I have a great chance of playing there if I put the work in, and the system I would be in.
Hyde: Who was in charge of your recruitment in Iowa City? Did they tell you they might offer or was it always a preferred walk-on spot and that's it?
Hadachek: Reese Morgan. And they told me I was close to an offer, but not quite there. I will just have to come in with a chip on my shoulder and prove everyone wrong.
Lastly, I would like to thank my family, coaches, teachers and teammates for pushing me to get where I am today. I would not be here without them. They have given me the opportunities that made me reach the point I am today.
