Kirpes talks recruiting process, final decision

Fans of Wisconsin football that have followed the 2010 recruiting process closely are familiar with a handful of prospects that were, at one time, highly sought-after targets of the Badger coaching staff.

A name that may ring a bell is Austin Kirpes. A linebacker prospect from Rowlett, Tex, Kirpes was one of the very first prospects in the class of 2010 to receive a scholarship offer from Bret Bielema and his staff

Kirpes, who just this past weekend verbally committed to play football at Texas State University, took time out of his busy schedule to shed some light on his recruitment and how the process can be very draining for a teenage student.

"I took my unofficial visit to Wisconsin on June 26," Kirpes told BadgerBlitz.com Monday afternoon. "They offered in April and I was really looking forward to visiting them. I had a great time in Madison and I really enjoyed my trip up there.

"My only regret was that I came up there a little lighter than usual," he continued. "I'm not sure if that had any negative impact with the coaches, but after I got the offer from Wisconsin I stopped working out and lost 10-15 pounds without even realizing it. So, after my visit the linebacker slots filled up real quick and I just was not ready to make my decision that fast. Before I knew it the position was filled-up with commitments. It looks like a great group of linebackers coming in and I wish nothing but the best for the Badgers."

Rowlett, which competes in District 10-5A, went 4-7 this season in one of Texas' strongest prep conferences.

Although the Badgers were the first school to offer Kirpes, others made their way to Rowlett in hopes of luring him to their respective universities.

"I also had offers from Portland State, Sam Houston State and Texas State," stated the 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect. "I visited Sam Houston St. the weekend of Jan. 15. It went really well, but I wanted to take my Texas State visit before making any decisions, and I ended up loving it.

"Portland State treated me great through the whole process, but it just ended up a little far from home. I was also getting looks from Iowa State, Washington State and Ohio. I really felt like those schools were going to come through with an offer, but it just didn't end up happening."

In the end, family and friends played a big role in the decision for Kirpes and he eventually decided to stay close to home.

"Through this experience I became closer with my family and realized playing close to them was very important to me," he said. "As a player I was forced to play my senior season lighter than I would have wanted. My body started to wear down a bit during the end of the year. I felt like it was because I didn't take care of my business in the weight room during the summer. I'm glad I learned this lesson in high school. If I want to reach my goals at the next level, there can be no room for complacency.

"In the end, Texas State had great coaches and top notch facilities. They want me to play a standup end that they call a 'bandit' defender. The program is just heading in a great direction and I can't wait to be apart of the team."

Kirpes, who has seen firsthand the ups and downs of the recruiting process, is looking forward to starting his new life in San Marcos next fall and is happy to have this process behind him.

"The most stressful part of this process is the fact that a majority of it is out of your control," he explained. "It's tough because where ever you decide to go you'll be spending at least the next five years of your life there. It's a huge decision and in the end everyone ends up where their meant to be.

"For me it's Texas State."