Preps 24/7: Two down, (at least) two visits to go for Batavia's Gardner

Batavia football standout Cole Gardner made his first pair of college visits earlier this month when the 6-foot-6, senior tight end scoped out North Dakota and Western Illinois.

Gardner, who is sandwiching his recruiting visits around participation with the Bulldogs' boys basketball team this winter, plans additional visits in January to Illinois State and Indiana State. Gardner said it's likely he will take at least one additional visit beyond those two.

Regarding his first two visits, in addition to proximity, the biggest contrast between Western Illinois and North Dakota was the home stadiums. North Dakota plays its home games in a domed stadium, the Alerus Center. Playing indoors or outside doesn't sound like a deal-breaker, though, for Gardner, who said "either one works."