Report: Bowers to make another visit

It has not been a good week for Northern Illinois in recruiting.

After quarterback Miles Osei changed his commitment from NIU to Illinois and recruiting coordinator/wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck left to go to Rutgers, Rivals.com is reporting that running back Giorgio Bowers, who gave a verbal commitment to NIU, is taking a visit to Akron this weekend.

"I guess the best way to describe it is that I'm now a soft verbal to Northern Illinois," Bowers rold Rivals. "I'm still committed to NIU but I want to see what Akron has to offer. I've gotten to know the new coaches at Akron and they seem like good guys. I also have spoken in the past with head coach Rob Ianello when he was at Notre Dame and we always have gotten along well. I just feel like I'll need to see and experience Akron in person to be totally secure in my decision."

You can read the full report here.

Also, I couldn't fit this into today's story on Fleck's departure, but Fleck and I talked about NIU wideout Landon Cox and here is what Fleck had to say.

"He was my first guy," Fleck said. "I saw him and thought I can develop this kid. I can take him to where he wants to be and I'm going to see what kind of coach I'm going to be. I've taught him everything I can give him. It's not like i'm going to reinvent the wheel with him this year."

Cox had his best season last year as a junior, catching 45 passes for 535 yards and four touchdowns and arguably was the best blocking wide receiver in the MAC. Fleck often has called Cox one of the best receivers in the conference but he doesn't get recognized like other wideouts because NIU runs the ball more than some of the pass-happy MAC teams.