Mason offensive lineman Joseph Spencer is keeping his options open in the wake of the firing of Illinois head coach Ron Zook.
The departure of Zook on Sunday had Spencer reassessing his commitment to the Fighting Illini. Mason coach Brian Castner said late yesterday that Spencer will consider other schools until Illinois hires new coaching staff.
Spencer, ranked the 14th-best center and considered a three-star prospect, verbally committed to Illinois in mid-July. At the time of his commitment, he has also had offers from UC, Illinois, South Florida, Air Force, Ohio University, Akron, Toledo, Kent State, Bowling Green, Miami University, Buffalo and Florida International.
Spencer was named an Associated Press Division I second-team all-district selection this season. He was first-team all-Greater Miami Conference.
Spencer’s lead recruiter, Illinois assistant coach Jeff Brohm, met with the 6-foot-4 and 275 pound tackle at school on Tuesday. While Spencer said it did little to reaffirm his commitment, he remains verbally committed to Illinois. Brohm reassured Spencer that the athletic department will honor all commitments while Zook was coach, according to ESPN.
“Right now it’s still waiting until the new coach is hired and then building a relationship and getting to know what they see with the program and which direction they’re going to take it,” Spencer told ESPN.
Zook, the highest paid state employee in Illinois, was ousted Sunday following his team’s historic late-season collapse. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning was named interim head coach.
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