It's Fe-dora-witz, just so you know

For the last eight years, Iowa starting tight ends under coach Kirk Ferentz have made it to the NFL in some way, shape or form.

As far as recruiting tools go, that's gold.

"Yeah, the last eight years or so. They brought that up almost every time," said C.J. Fiedorowicz, who hopes to join the conga line of Iowa tight ends in the NFL. "That's pretty much what sold me, that and some other things. But they brought that one up. That was a big one."

Fiedorowicz is a big one in his own right. The 6-7, 250-pounder earned all kinds of accolades during his stellar career at Johnsburg (Ill.) High School. This year, he caught 43 for 956 yards 15 TDs. He participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. As a free safety, he picked off three passes over Prairie Ridge, lifting Johnsburg to its first win in five tries against its conference rival and into the Illinois Class 4A playoffs.

Fiedorowicz also caught seven passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns, in the Skyhawks' 24-21 win.

"He basically won the game for us," Johnsburg coach Barry Creviston said.

And yes, free safety. There's a reason for that.

"We started out the season with him at defensive end and teams just gameplanned away from him. It was kind of a waste," Creviston said. "He was going to be the best player whatever position we put him at, it was best just to put him back there and just hawk down any potential big plays."

Fiedorowicz had a blast.

"I got to do basically whatever I wanted back there. It was something different. I liked it a lot," Fiedorowicz said. -- They were running away from me at defensive end. It was getting old. I told him I'd try it and it really worked out.

Fiedorowicz will play tight end at Iowa, but he didn't play the position much at Johnsburg. He was more of a wide receiver in a spread offense. When pro sets were called, Fiedorowicz lined up as a tight end but then ran tight end routes in the passing game.

So yeah, blocking is what he knows he needs to nail down going into fall camp in Iowa City. He did, however, get a taste of it in the All-American Bowl.

"It was a big adrenaline rush," Fiedorowicz said. "First play of the game, I was really excited and had a nice couple of hits. I blocked most of that game. I think I did pretty for not doing it almost my whole high school career."

He has firmly set his mind on playing for the Hawkeyes next season. Every indication from the Iowa coaching staff says that's the plan, perhaps as a No. 3 tight end, a set the Hawkeyes use a handful of times each game.

"They've basically said if he doesn't trip over his own feet the first day he shows up, he should  be in the mix," Creviston said. "Iowa uses a lot of three tight end sets, so I know they are looking for him to see some playing time if he can handle his business on his end when he shows up."

What Fiedorowicz lacks for experience on the blocking side of tight end, he might be able to make up for in raw material. With guidance from his father, Gary, a long-time weightroom workout warrior, Fiedorowicz has impressive numbers -- 350-pound bench press, 500 squat and 325 power clean.

"He does a great job in the weightroom," Creviston said. "He doesn't just show up and, hey, I'm C.J., I'm a superstar and do nothing. He's the hardest working kid in there because I think he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. He's a good example to show kids."

And make no mistake, Fiedorowicz wants to play next season. After senior Allen Reisner (27 career receptions), it's pretty wide open. Fiedorowicz knows he's going to need to take blocking head on.

"Yeah, that's what everyone usually says (about the blocking)," Fiedorowicz said. "I'm sure I can learn it. I'm not really worried about it.

"I want to play right away and make a big impact. Hopefully, maybe 30 catches."

Fiedorowicz committed to Illinois after a visit last summer. He made another visit early in the season and didn't like what he saw as far as atmosphere and how Illinois used the tight end position.

"When I just started watching some of their games, I could tell they didn't use their tight end the way they said they were going to," Fiedorowicz said. "They never used it."

He visited Iowa on the Minnesota weekend, a 12-0 Iowa victory, and reopened his recruitment -- for about a week. Wisconsin and Ohio State called, but it was over pretty quickly. He committed to Iowa around Thanksgiving.

""I went to an Iowa game and thought immediately, this is where I should be," he said. "Ohio State and Wisconsin came back, but I knew it was going to be Iowa right off the bat."

Fiedorowicz had at least eight college football scholarship offers. He also had a bunch of Division I-A basketball offers, including Indiana and Wisconsin. This season, he averages 17 points and nine rebounds for 17-1 Johnsburg. And no, he wasn't tempted by basketball.

His brother, Kyle, tried that, but switched to football at North Central College.

"No way on basketball," Fiedorowicz said. "I want to put everything into football."