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Illinois State lands a pair of high-level transfers

December 19, 2013

By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Illinois State University made a major splash in the recruiting world when the Redbirds landed two transfers in a week.

First, 1B Nick Kowalczuk transferred from the University of Michigan to Illinois State. A 2013 graduate from Oak-Park River Forest HS, the physical 6-foot-3, 200-pound Kowalczuk was a freshman at Michigan, and will have to sit out this season. A three-year starter at Oak Park, Kowalczuk earned Porsche Exchange Player of the Week honors last spring after he went 7-for-11 with five extra-base hits, three of which were home runs, to go along with 11 RBI and two walks.

The exclamation point to Illinois State’s holiday season came on Wednesday, when INF/RHP Ryan Koziol verbally committed to the Redbirds. The 6-foot-3 left-handed hitting Koziol was the top two-way prospect in Illinois’ 2012 class. After his senior season at Providence HS, Koziol committed to the University of Arizona, where he started 27 games as a position player.

Koziol decided to transfer to Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida over the summer. Koziol will play the spring season at Gulf Coast State College and will be eligible at Illinois State for the 2015 season.

Koziol, who played his first three high school seasons at Brother Rice HS, is a true two-way impact player. On the mound, he featured an 87-90 mph fastball in high school, along with an advanced changeup and cutter. Offensively, he has a pure left-handed swing and can play multiple infield positions.

Send all Illinois recruiting information to [email protected] 

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