Badgers Could Land RB Commitment This Week

Chicago’s Dwayne Smith came away from his official visit loving the Wisconsin program and campus, and he’s thinking about committing this week. The 5-10, 215-pound running back from Hales-Franciscan High School is deciding between the Badgers and Northwestern. He made his official visit to Northwestern Dec. 7.

“My visit went real good. Everything is going real good. I think I’m going to be ready to decide by Friday,” Smith said. “But I’m still thinking about (Northwestern) too. It’s the next four years of my life and I really don’t want to rush anything. I’m trying to put everything in perspective, and I think I’ll make a good decision.”

Hosted by defensive lineman Jason Jefferson, Smith had a great time on his visit and said he came away thinking even higher about Wisconsin than he did beforehand.

“I didn’t know how good their business school was, and that’s what I want to major in,” Smith said. “And I didn’t know how intense their strength and conditioning coach is, especially towards Pro Day and getting his players ready for the NFL.”

Smith is hoping to play immediately wherever he goes, and the Badger coaches have told him that’s a strong possibility.

“They said they are looking for me to be the No. 2 back right now, because they are looking for a bigger back,” Smith said. “They said as long as I come and show up to play and perform the way they know I can, and the way I know I can, then everything should work out and I should play my freshman year.”

Smith finished with 1,450 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing this season, leading his team to a playoff berth for the first time in three decades.

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