Larkin's vision led him to NU

As a running back, Jeremy Larkin relies on his vision to see openings and avoid tacklers, and that vision has served him well. The three-star standout rushed for 4,413 yards and 66 touchdowns over the last two seasons in leading Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle to back-to-back state championships.

Larkin used that same vision this year in the recruiting process. And what he saw led the three-star prospect to reverse field and commit to Northwestern.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder had been a Cincinnati commitment since June, when he chose the hometown Bearcats over Northwestern and other schools. But as he watched the two teams play closely on television this fall, he realized that Northwestern was the better fit on the field as well as off of it.

So he decommitted from Cincinnati last Wednesday and committed to the Wildcats on Sunday to become the 20th member of their Class of 2016.

"I've been able to see (Northwestern) play throughout the weeks. I watched football more in depth this fall than I ever have. I wish I had done this last year, to tell you the truth," said Larkin.

"I already knew I loved the program, the facilities and the coaching staff, but I saw how I could fit in. I could definitely see myself as part of their offense."

Northwestern's offense was downright ugly at points this season, but beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. The Wildcats rank 114th in the nation in total offense (332.6 ypg), but Larkin sees an attack well suited his talents as a running back. They certainly ran the ball well, ranking 38th in the country in rushing (193.3 ypg).

Larkin also agrees with the assessment of many observers that his style is an awful lot like that of Justin Jackson, Northwestern's star running back. Jackson led the Big Ten in carries (298) and ranked third in rushing (112.0 ypg), and the Wildcats also like to utilize him in the passing game.

That's all a welcome sight to Larkin. "(Jackson is) the same type of back I am," he said.

Watching Larkin's highlight tape, the similarities between the two are obvious. Rivals Midwest recruiting expert Josh Hemholdt certainly saw them.

"He has tremendous balance," said Hemholdt. "I was so impressed every time I went out and saw that kid. Linebackers, defensive linemen would be knocking him around between the tackles, but he just wouldn't go down. He plays a lot stronger than his frame suggests.

"He also has tremendous vision and is a very patient runner. He waits for that hope to open, and he has the quickness to exploit it. Even though his size suggests he would be more of a change-of-pace back at the college level, there are some comparisons to Northwestern's current running back, Justin Jackson, and if he adds some weight and some bulk to his frame, he could end up being a 20-carry back or the Wildcats."

Larkin said that he started having second thoughts about his commitment to Cincinnati and reached out to Northwestern in late October, when he talked to running backs coach Matt MacPherson and his recruiter, linebackers coach Randy Bates. He was excited to find out that a spot was still open for him if he wanted it, and that MacPherson and Bates were just as interested as he was despite the fact that the two sides hadn't spoken in four months. (Larkin said he didn't make it public because LaSalle was on a quest for the state title they would eventually capture on Dec. 4, with an emphatic 42-0 win over Massillon Perry in the final.)

Last Wednesday, Larkin made the difficult call to tell Cincinnati coaches that he was decommitting. He emphasized that his decision wasn't because of anything that Cincinnati was lacking.

"I told them that it wasn't like they did anything wrong. I'm just changing my mind," he said.

Going to Northwestern also reunites Larkin with Northwestern freshman defensive tackle Jordan Thompson, a former teammate who helped lead LaSalle to its first title, in 2014. The two texted each other before games each week during the season to wish each other luck.

The recruiting process now over -- really, his second one in the span of a year -- Larkin says he feels relieved. And the irony is that Northwestern, the very first school to offer him a scholarship, in October of 2014, turned out to be the one he chose in the end.

All Larkin had to do was follow his vision. It usually leads him to the right place.