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Colleges interested in Moeller's Hendrix | Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati.Com

Moeller junior Andrew Hendrix could've never imagined the attention he's received from college programs during the past five months.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback wasn't even the full-time starter last summer - he won the position after a preseason competition in August. But Hendrix's highlight film has created a surge in his recruiting stock this spring. "It's definitely been a pleasant surprise," Hendrix said last week. "I did not expect (the offers) this early."

As Moeller started its spring break Friday, Hendrix had offers from Stanford, Nebraska, Cincinnati, Miami University, Louisville, Boston College, Northwestern, Illinois, Virginia, Kansas, Vanderbilt and Indiana.
"People have told me he might be one of the best (quarterbacks) in the country," Moeller coach John

Rodenberg said. "I see him getting 20 or more offers once spring is over."

Hendrix previously thought he would narrow his college list this spring and commit before Moeller's season. But his mind changed a bit last week after he received a Facebook message from St. Xavier defensive lineman Patrick Muldoon, who will play for Wisconsin in the fall.

"The main thing I said was it would be tough to decide without taking all your official (recruiting) visits," Muldoon said. Muldoon, who made his oral commitment to the Badgers shortly before Christmas, took all five of his official visits. Though it's tempting to commit early, Muldoon said, the ability to ask questions of current college players is very helpful.

"(The players) will be straight-up and you will learn what the defensive linemen think about the (assistant) coach - whether he's a good coach but will really (tick) you off or ride you hard," Muldoon said. "It's information you wouldn't really learn from the coaches."

Hendrix, who is also a third baseman/pitcher on the Moeller baseball team, said he has appreciated Muldoon's advice. Muldoon said he has given similar information to St. X junior offensive lineman Matt James. Muldoon said he wanted to pass along the advice given to him from a couple of former St. X players, including Darius Ashley and Stephon Ball, who now are at Louisville.

Although Ashley and Ball did not take their five official visits, Muldoon said all three players had shared experiences during their recruiting processes, such as being overwhelmed with calls from recruiting Web sites, having expensive meals on official visits and hearing similar sales pitches from coaches at various schools.

"Unless you are 100 percent sure (about a school), you shouldn't (commit early)," Muldoon said. "If you end up backing out of a commitment, it can reflect poorly on you."

Hendrix isn't ready to narrow anything down yet. Since the Crusaders' baseball team is scheduled to play in Tennessee this week, Hendrix plans to visit the University of Tennessee on Tuesday or Wednesday and possibly Vanderbilt Wednesday night. He might take in some spring practices at Virginia and Louisville in the near future.

"I am considering my options for committing later than earlier," Hendrix said. "If I find the right fit, then I will pull the trigger early."